Category: Featured

DAZHOU: Japan secured a 3-0 victory over the Pakistan hockey team to clinch the U-18 Asia Cup title here at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre on Sunday.

Japan ended Pakistan’s unbeaten run in the tournament with a dominant display in the final. The winning team kept the Greens at bay from the nets throughout the four quarters of the game.

Both teams fought hard but were unable to score in the opening quarter of the game. However, Japan took the lead with Yuma Fujiwara scoring goals in the 22nd and 38th minutes of the game.

 

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Japan further capitalized on the lead over the Pakistan Hockey team in the 49th minute of the match when Tatsuaki Yasui converted a penalty corner to send the ball into the nets.

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Earlier, the Pakistan hockey team secured their place in the semi-finals of the U-18 Asia Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Malaysia, continuing their unbeaten streak in the tournament until the final.

The Green Shirts’ journey in the Asia Cup started dominantly with crushing victories against Hong Kong (8-0), Bangladesh (6-3), Sri Lanka (9-0), and China (2-1).

For the unversed, the loss against Japan marks the second for the Pakistan hockey team in a month’s time. Pakistan also suffered a defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the FIH Nations Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in June 2025.

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: Haris Rauf reveals the greatest cricketer of last 25 years

The Government of Pakistan is reportedly considering withdrawing its national hockey team from the upcoming Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in India, citing growing political tensions and serious security concerns for its players.

According to government sources, the decision stems from what they describe as a “hostile and unsafe environment” being created across the border, particularly through Indian media and extremist groups that have allegedly issued direct threats to Pakistani athletes on social media.

Despite Pakistan’s longstanding policy of keeping sports and politics separate, officials say the situation has been exacerbated by India’s approach, which they believe has “politicised” the sporting landscape.

“Indian media is running a relentless smear campaign against Pakistan, and players are being openly threatened online by extremist groups,” said a government source familiar with the development.

The source also pointed fingers at right-wing organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), claiming their close ties with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have amplified the security risks.

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“Given the current geopolitical climate and the rising risks to player safety, sending the team to India is simply not a viable option,” the source added.

Sources added that initial reports from India had indicated that the Pakistan hockey team had been granted permission to participate.

However, the tone in Indian media coverage allegedly shifted soon after, raising further doubts over the team’s safety.

“It’s unfortunate,” the official said.

“Despite Pakistan’s efforts to keep sports above politics, India has repeatedly politicised sporting events. In this environment, the safety and dignity of our athletes cannot be assured.”

The Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, India, from August 27 to September 7.

An official confirmation from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) or the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) regarding participation is still awaited.

READ: Pat Cummins to skip South Africa white-ball series to focus on Ashes preparation

DAZHOU: Pakistan clinched a 4-3 victory over Malaysia in a penalty shootout to reach the U-18 Hockey Asia Cup final here at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre on Friday.

Pakistan continued their unbeaten run in the tightly contested semi-final, as neither team could score goals during regular time.

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 in dominant fashion.

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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.

The U18 Hockey Asia Cup, held in China from July 3 to July 13, features teams from 11 nations.

The teams include China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

Pakistan has been placed in Pool A alongside China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.

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: Joe Root surpasses Rahul Dravid, Steve Smith’s record in Lord’s Test against India

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has revealed the heartfelt story behind his now-iconic phrase “King kar lega,” a line that has resonated deeply with fans and become a symbol of support for star batter Babar Azam.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with a local sports platform, Hasan shared the emotional significance behind the catchphrase and reflected on Babar’s journey as a player, leader, and figure of inspiration.

“The phrase ‘King kar lega’ didn’t just come from my mouth, it came straight from my heart,” Hasan said, adding that the words carried more than just encouragement; they stemmed from a place of admiration.

The pacer, who debuted alongside Babar Azam in 2016, praised his former captain’s consistency and class across formats, calling him the finest batter of this generation.

“Babar has proven with both his performance and attitude that he is the best batter of this era,” Hasan remarked.

“We all gave him the title of ‘King’. Even though he couldn’t win a trophy, he still ranks among Pakistan’s greatest captains.”

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Delving deeper into his affection for the batter, Hasan Ali highlighted the universal respect Babar commands across the cricketing world.

“That line came straight from the heart, not just the tongue. Even legends like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root admire his batting,” he added.

“If you ask fans whether Babar’s cover drive is better than Kohli’s, many would back Babar.”

Reflecting on their shared journey in international cricket, Hasan spoke warmly about Babar’s evolution, from a promising youngster to the face of Pakistan cricket.

“Babar and I made our debuts around the same time. I’ve seen him grow, score runs, and put in the hard work. He truly is the king of Pakistan cricket,” Hasan concluded.

READ: Pakistan batter questions exclusion of Hasan Ali from T20I squad

LONDON: England have included Jofra Archer in their playing XI for the third Test of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy against India, marking the fast bowler’s return to red-ball cricket after more than four years.

Archer will make his return to red-ball cricket on Thursday at the iconic Lord’s, the very ground where he made his Test debut back in 2019.

His comeback follows an extended spell on the sidelines due to recurring elbow and back injuries, which had restricted him to white-ball formats in recent years.

However, he recently returned to first-class cricket, bowling 18 overs for Sussex last month, and has now been deemed fit to lead England’s pace attack at Lord’s.

His inclusion comes as England look to bounce back from a heavy 336-run defeat in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Jofra Archer replaces Josh Tongue in the XI, the only change from the previous match. While Tongue is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 11 scalps, he has been expensive, leaking runs at 4.56 per over.

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Interestingly, Archer’s return mirrors the circumstances of his 2019 debut when England brought him in after Australia’s Steve Smith dominated with twin hundreds in the opening Ashes Test.

Now, he’s been handed the task of unsettling India’s in-form captain Shubman Gill, who stunned England with scores of 269 and 161 at Edgbaston.

Despite a heavy workload in the first two Tests, Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes retain their places. Carse bowled 77 overs across the two matches and appeared to be dealing with a toe issue during the second Test.

However, captain Ben Stokes dismissed fitness concerns, clarifying that the discomfort was due to his footwear rather than a physical injury.

It’s worth noting that Archer has featured in 13 Tests for England between 2019 and 2021, picking up 42 wickets at an average of 31.04. His most prolific run came in the 2019 Ashes, where he claimed 20 wickets at 20.27.

England Playing XI for 3rd Test vs India: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.

READ: Wiaan Mulder leapfrogs Babar Azam in Test Batting Rankings after record-breaking 367*

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad, excluding pacer Haris Rauf, for the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on July 20.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20I side, while vice-captain Shadab Khan and pacer Haris Rauf have been ruled out due to injuries.

The squad for the white-ball series against West Indies will be announced in due course.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf is not part of the squad due to an injury he sustained during the Major League Cricket (MLC) match. The right-arm pacer has suffered a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the San Francisco Unicorns’ clash against the Texas Super Kings.

Meanwhile, Shadab Khan had successful shoulder surgery in the UK to address ongoing issues with his right shoulder. The procedure was carried out effectively, bringing relief from the discomfort he had been experiencing for some time.

Among the notable inclusions are left-arm pacer Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Moqim.

Sufiyan has made a return to the side after featuring in the New Zealand tour while Salman has earned his maiden call up for the national team following impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

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The opening match is scheduled for July 20, followed by the second T20I on July 22 and the third on July 24.

After wrapping up the Bangladesh tour, the Green Shirts will travel to the United States of America (USA) to face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Florida, set to take place from August 1 to 4.

Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series scheduled between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim

Team management:

Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Muhammad Hanif Malik (batting Coach), Shane McDermott (fielding Coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)

Pakistan tour of Bangladesh schedule

1st T20I – July 20, Dhaka

2nd T20I – July 22, Dhaka

3rd T20I – July 24, Dhaka

READ: Ihsanullah clarifies emotional comments on cricket future amid backlash

BULAWAYO: South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder has revealed the reason behind selflessly forgoing Brian Lara monumental batting record in the second Test against Zimbabwe.

Wiaan Mulder delivered a record-breaking performance in the ongoing South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test, smashing his maiden triple century and surpassing a long-standing record held by legendary Hashim Amla.

The right-handed batter scored 367* off 334 deliveries, peppered with 49 fours and four maximums. However, the all-rounder decided to declare the Proteas innings just when he was 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s 400* run world record.

While speaking at the end of the day’s play, the Proteas’ stand-in skipper, Wiaan Mulder, shared his thoughts after scoring a record-breaking knock for South Africa.

“To be honest, I have never even dreamt of getting a double hundred, let alone a triple hundred. Most importantly, it has put the team in a good position to win this Test,” he said.

Highest individual scores in Test cricket

400* – Brian Lara for West Indies v England, Antigua 2004

380 – Matthew Hayden for Australia v Zimbabwe, Perth 2003

375 – Brian Lara for West Indies v England, Antigua 1994

374 – Mahela Jayawardene for Sri Lanka v South Africa, Colombo 2006

367* – Wiaan Mulder for South Africa v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2025

“We had enough to bowl at. Brian Lara is a legend. He got 400 or 401 or something against England, and for someone to keep that record, it is special. I spoke to Shuks (Shukri Conrad) – and spoke about letting the legends keep (that record). Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he added.

He also shed light on the learnings from some of the great players, noting that he was not good enough when he started playing cricket.

“When I started playing for South Africa, I was nowhere near good enough. Have had the opportunity to learn from some great players (past and present).”

“Going to England really gave me a chance to understand what kind of batter (I want to be) and figure out (my weaknesses). Lots of lessons (from my time in England). There were so many thoughts like you have got enough.”

Wiaan highlighted the moment he got bowled out on a no-ball while playing at 247 runs during the second South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test.

“When I got bowled on 247, a lapse of concentration, there was so much negative happening. But there was a lot of positive thinking happening as well. Just singing my song between balls, trying to keep myself natural and present, tried feeling my shoes to stay in the moment and not think too far ahead,” Wiaan concluded.

READ: Wiaan Mulder breaks Hashim Amla’s record with historic triple century

Former all-rounder Imad Wasim has been added to the Pakistan Champions squad for the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, set to be played from July 18 to August 2, 2025.

The announcement of Imad Wasim’s inclusion was made via social media handles.

“A power-packed addition to the squad. We proudly welcome Imad Wasim to Pakistan Champions, an all-rounder with grit, game, and presence,” the franchise wrote.

Imad Wasim, who announced his retirement from international cricket in 2024, is a regular in the T20 circuit around the globe. The left-hander has played 394 T20Is, along with featuring in 75 matches for Pakistan in the shortest format.

 

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Currently, Imad Wasim is representing Somerset in the T20 blast in England. The tournament will be on hold starting July 18 after the conclusion of the league stage.

The Pakistan Champions’ squad will also feature Sarfaraz Ahmed, the captain who led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy 2017.

For the unversed, the WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

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Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

They opened their campaign with a clinical win over Australia before thrashing the West Indies.

One of the tournament’s most iconic moments came in their clash against India, where Pakistan racked up a mammoth 243/4 and then restricted their arch-rivals to 175/9.

Their only group-stage defeat came against South Africa, but the Men in Green bounced back strong, sealing a semi-final win against the West Indies by 20 runs to set up a high-stakes final against India.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

READ: Suryavanshi eyes rare double in Youth ODIs after shattering Kamran Ghulam’s record

Pakistan T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan has undergone successful surgery on his right shoulder in the United Kingdom (UK), the star all-rounder confirmed on Saturday through a post on social media.

“Alhamdulillah, the surgery went well. Recovery and rehab up next. Request you to keep me in your prayers,” Shadab wrote, sharing a picture from his hospital bed on X (formerly Twitter).

The experienced all-rounder had been struggling with persistent discomfort in his right shoulder for some time.

After multiple consultations, surgery was deemed the best option, and he is now expected to be sidelined for at least three months.

As a result, Shadab Khan is likely to be ruled out of Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball assignments against Bangladesh and the West Indies.

Meanwhile, his availability for the Asia Cup in September is also uncertain at this stage.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to officially comment on his recovery timeline or provide clarity on his return.

Meanwhile, sources suggest that the squad for the upcoming series could be announced next week.

While no major changes are expected, the inclusion of left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem is reportedly under serious consideration.

Preparations for the Bangladesh tour will begin with a training camp at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium from July 7.

The Pakistan team is scheduled to depart for Dhaka on July 16, with the three-match T20I series to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on July 20, 22, and 24, respectively.

READ: England register unwanted record in second Test against India

Former captain and star all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is set to lead the Pakistan Champions squad in the upcoming World Championship of Legends (WCL) season 2, set to be played from July 18 to August 2, 2025.

Pakistan Champions announced the decision through a post on their social media accounts.

“The Professor takes the charge,” read the post. “We’re proud to announce Mohammad Hafeez as the Captain of Pakistan Champions for Season 2.”

The Pakistan Champions’ squad will also feature Sarfaraz Ahmed, the captain who led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy 2017.

For the unversed, the WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second instalment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

They opened their campaign with a clinical win over Australia before thrashing the West Indies.

One of the tournament’s most iconic moments came in their clash against India, where Pakistan racked up a mammoth 243/4 and then restricted their arch-rivals to 175/9.

Their only group-stage defeat came against South Africa, but the Men in Green bounced back strong, sealing a semi-final win against the West Indies by 20 runs to set up a high-stakes final against India.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

READ: Australia Champions name star-studded squad for WCL 2025