Category: Featured

LAHORE: Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), shared his views on the bilateral cricket series between the Pakistan and India teams during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

While speaking to the media during the match between New Zealand and South Africa, Shukla emphasized that BCCI’s policy regarding bilateral series remains unchanged and that the Indian government will decide whether the team will travel to Pakistan.

“India and Pakistan will only play bilateral series in their respective countries, not at neutral venues. It is Indian board’s policy that bilateral series will be played on home soils,” he said.

Rajeev Shukla further praised Pakistan’s arrangement for the ICC Champions Trophy and expressed his delight at visiting Lahore.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

“It feels great to be here. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made very good arrangements to organize the tournament,” he remarked.

Shukla mentioned that the current status of the Asia Cup remains unchanged while admitting that different countries want to host India-Pakistan matches and they have offered to stage them.

“World wants to host India-Pakistan matches. Multiple countries had offered to stage them,” said Shukla.

It is important to note that Pakistan and India last played a bilateral series in 2012-2013. During the successful tour of India, green shirts won the ODI series 2-1, while the T20I series ended in a 1-1 tie.

For the unversed, the full implications of the India’s refusal to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan were laid bare on Sunday as Australia and South Africa waited to find out whether they will play their semi-finals in Lahore or Dubai this week.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Political tensions between the neighbours mean India has not played a cricket match in Pakistan since 2008 and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were not inclined to change the policy for the Champions Trophy, citing government advice over security issues.

As a result, although the rest of the tournament is taking place in Pakistan, India played all their group matches in Dubai and will play the final on 9 March at the Dubai International cricket stadium.

Read: Champions Trophy: Williamson, Ravindra’s centuries power NZ to 362 against SA in semi-final

LAHORE: A dominant all-round effort with bat and ball propelled New Zealand to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final as they overpowered South Africa by 50 runs in the 2nd semi-final here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a daunting total of 363, South Africa’s batting line faltered and could only score 312-9 in 50 overs. David Miller’s fighting century was the only silver lining for South Africa in a challenging run chase.

New Zealand’s Matt Henry struck early with the wicket of inform opener Ryan Rickelton(12) in the fourth over.

After the early blow, skipper Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen steadied the chase, adding 105 runs.

Bavuma (56) fell prey to Mitchell Santner in the 23rd over. He struck one six and four fours in his knock.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Soon after, Van der Dussen returned to the pavilion after scoring a well-made 69 off 66 deliveries, laced with four fours and two sixes.

Following his dismissal, New Zealand’s disciplined bowling triggered a batting collapse and flickered the hopes of South Africa with wickets in quick succession.

The experienced batters Heinrich Klaasen (3) and Aiden Markram (31) could not do much in the run chase as Santner spun a web around the Proteas with left-arm spin bowling.

At one stage South Africa were reeling at 218-8, however, David Miller, who played a lone hand, provided hope with his blazing century off 67 balls, but it proved too much for South Africa.

The left-hander remained unbeaten on 100, scoring his century on the last ball of the innings. His sublime knock featured ten fours and four sixes.

For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner was the standout bowler who picked up three wickets in his ten overs, while Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry supported him well, bagging two wickets each.

Rachin Ravindra was named Player of the Match for his all-around performance.

Earlier, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra’s centuries powered New Zealand to a formidable total of 362 against South Africa in their 50 overs.

After opting to bat, New Zealand posted 362-6 in their allotted 50 overs against a formidable South Africa bowling line up.

The opening pair of Rachin Ravindra and Will Young provided New Zealand with a solid start, putting together a partnership of 48 runs before Young was dismissed for 21 runs.

After Young’s dismissal, experienced player Kane Williamson joined Ravindra at the crease. The duo formed a significant partnership, adding 164 runs and putting New Zealand in a commanding position.

Ravindra scored an impressive 108 runs off 101 balls, hitting 13 fours and one six. At his dismissal, New Zealand were 212-2 in 33.3 overs.

Williamson forged another 39-run partnership for the third wicket with Daryl Mitchell, laying a solid foundation for a strong finish.

The talismanic batter continued his excellent form in the tournament, scoring his 15th ODI century before being dismissed for 102 runs. His flawless knock included ten fours and two sixes.

In the last ten overs of the innings, the Black Caps accumulated 110 runs, thanks to cameos of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Mitchell was caught just one run shy of a half-century. He struck four fours and one six, in his 37-ball 49. On the other hand, Phillips remained unbeaten with his blazing 49 off 27 balls, featuring half a dozen fours and one six.

For South Africa Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers, taking three for 72 in his 10 overs, while he was supported well with his two wickets.

Playing XIs
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke

Read: Tickets for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final sell out within minutes

DUBAI: Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya blitz propelled India to victory over Australia in the 1st Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

India successfully chased a challenging target of 265 on a fresh Dubai pitch in 48.1 overs on losing six wickets.

In pursuit of the target, India lost both openers inside the power play. Rohit Sharma (28) and Shubman Gill (8) were dismissed quickly, thanks to some good bowling from Australia.

After the early hiccup, Indian stalwart Virat Kohli and Sheryas Iyer added a 91-run stand to steady the chase. Iyer departed after making a well-made 45 off 62 deliveries, featuring three fours.

But Kohli remained steadfast in the chase, forming vital partnerships with Axar Patel and KL Rahul.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

He was the standout performer, scoring a flawless 84 off 98, laced with four boundaries, before being dismissed in the 42nd over.

Following his dismissal, Hardik Pandya took control of the chase and struck a quick-fire 28, bringing India close to the victory. He struck three huge sixes in his 28 off 24 balls.

With only 4 required off 12 balls, Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 42, hit the winning runs with a six over midwicket and steered India into their third consecutive Champions Trophy final.

For Australia, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa were the pick of the bowlers, each claiming two wickets.

India veteran batter Virat Kohli was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding batting performance in the all-important Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia.

Earlier, Steve Smith and Alex Carey’s half-centuries set India a target of 265 in 50 overs.

After opting to bat, Australia were bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs.

Former champions had a poor start as their new opener, Cooper Connolly, was dismissed for a duck after playing nine deliveries.

After the first wicket, Head and Steve Smith added a quick-fire stand of 50 runs. Travis Head smashed five fours and two sixes in his 39 off 33 deliveries before being dismissed off Varun Chakravarthy.

Australia lost wickets at regular intervals, but Steve Smith remained firm at one end and kept the scoreboard ticking with crucial partnerships.

He formed a crucial 54-run partnership with Alex Carey for the fifth wicket, bringing Australia close to 200 runs.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Smith remained the top scorer with his gritty knock of 73 runs, which featured four fours and one six.

After Smith’s departure in the 37 overs, Alex Carey took the charge and helped Australia reach a competitive total. He scored 61 off 59 deliveries, with eight fours and one six.

Mohammed Shami was India’s standout bowler, taking three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja bagged two wickets each.

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

READ: Pakistan head coach explains Babar-Rizwan’s exclusion from T20I squad

LAHORE: Salman Ali Agha has been named the T20I captain as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced two separate white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, returning all-rounder Shadab Khan will serve as vice-captain for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand from 16-26 March.

“The decision to appoint Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain, respectively, has been made with an eye on two major upcoming tournaments – the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February/March 2026),” the PCB stated in a press release.

“As part of preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan is set to play a minimum of five T20Is in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 and three T20Is each against West Indies (away, July), Afghanistan (home, August), Ireland (home, September), South Africa (home, September/October), Sri Lanka (home, November) and Australia (home, January 2026).”

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan will continue as ODI captain, with Salman serving as his deputy for the three 50-over matches scheduled at the backend of the tour from 29 March to 5 April.

In the T20I squad, there are three uncapped players – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali – while Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali are the two players who have yet to debut in ODIs.

The four players have been rewarded for their impressive performances in the Champions One-Day and T20 Cups.

In the Champions T20 Cup, Abdul Samad scored 115 runs at a strike-rate of 166.67 after aggregating 145 runs at a strike-rate of 122.88 in the Champions One-Day Cup.

Likewise, Hasan Nawaz had a staller Champions T20 Cup, finishing as the second leading run-getter with 312 runs at a strike-rate of 142.47.

Mohammad Ali, with 22 wickets, was the leading wicket-taker in the Champions T20 Cup, while he took three wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup.

Akif Javed has been selected in the ODI side after his seven wickets in five Champions One-Day Cup matches, while he took 15 wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.

Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered for either format on medical advice.

Fakhar suffered a left lower intercostal muscle sprain during Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, while Saim is recovering from a right ankle fracture sustained on the first day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa in January.

The series between Pakistan and New Zealand will run from 16 March 16 to 5 April, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series will kick off in Christchurch on 16 March, while the second match is scheduled to be played in Dunedin on 18 March.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The third match will be played in Auckland on 21 March, while the subsequent games are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on 23 and 26 March, respectively.

Following the T20I series, the teams will travel to Napier for the first ODI, scheduled for 29 March. The second ODI will be played on 2 April in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the final ODI on 5 April.

Pakistan squads for New Zealand tour

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

READ: PCB announces free Iftar for fans at Champions Trophy semi-final in Lahore

DUBAI: Australia captain Steve Smith revealed his thoughts on silencing the Indian crowd ahead of the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against India here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium tommorow.

While speaking in a pre-match press-conference, Smith gave a cold reply when asked about silencing the Indian crowd.

“To be honest, I don’t really have a message. Just going out and playing, and hopefully, we can put on a good show,” he said.

When asked if India has an advantage of playing in Dubai, the Australian skipper admitted that the familiarity with the conditions could play a key role.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Maybe, I am not sure. India have played all games here, so they have seen what surface is doing,” he remarked.

“The whole square block is pretty dry, and having spoken to groundsmen, it’s just a dry surface.” Smith added.

Steve Smith further highlighted that the spinner’s role will be important in deciding the winner of all important encounters.

“The game’s probably won and lost how we play this spin, particularly in the middle overs, the way we get through there,” he explained.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

“It’s going to be a challenge. I think that there’s going to be some spin by the looks of it, looking at the surface, and we’ve got to counter that. So we’ll see how we do that tomorrow,” the Australian skipper observed.

Smith acknowledged the absence of key Australia players but expressed confidence in the younger players to step up during this significant match against India.

“It’s good exposure for them to be able to play in an international tournament on a big stage.”

“I think they’ve handled themselves really well, so yeah, hopefully another good performance from the guys tomorrow and we can get into another final,” he concluded.

Read: ‘Keep 90s players away’ Rashid Latif issues bold statement on Pakistan cricket

DUBAI: Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy’s five-wicket haul powered India to a victory against New Zealand by 44 runs in the 12th match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

With this victory, India claimed the top position in Group A, confirming the semi-finalist teams for the Champions Trophy.

In their pursuit of a target of 250 on a slow-paced pitch in Dubai, New Zealand was bowled out for 205, largely due to superb bowling from the Indian spinners.

Kane Williamson was the top scorer for the Black Caps with a determined innings of 81 off 120 deliveries, laced with seven effortless fours.

New Zealand’s chase started poorly, with Rachin Ravindra, the centurion from the previous match, getting out early for just 6 runs.

Following this early setback, Kane Williamson partnered with Will Young to stabilize the innings, and the duo put together a 32-run partnership before Chakaravarthy bowled out Young.

India bowlers consistently applied pressure on New Zealand, taking wickets at regular intervals, which severely hindered their progress.

Despite this, Kane Williamson fought hard, remaining at the crease until he was dismissed in the 41st over.

Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand skipper, also made a notable contribution, scoring 28 runs off 31 balls, including two sixes and one four, but he couldn’t help his team cross the finishing line against disciplined bowling of India.

For India, Varun Chakaravarthy was the star of the show with his five-wicket haul, while Kuldeep Yadav provided strong support, taking two wickets.

Earlier, Matt Henry took five wickets restricting India to 249-9 in their allocated 50 overs.

After choosing to bowl, New Zealand effectively limited Team India strong batting lineup to 249 runs for 9 wickets in their 50 overs with excellent bowling and outstanding fielding.

India’s top three were removed inside powerplay. Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson dismissed Rohit Sharma(15) and Shubman Gill (2).

Virat Kohli (11), playing in his 300th One-Day International, was caught by Glenn Phillips, who took a stunning catch to dismiss the stalwart.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

India were 30-3 when Axar Patel joined Shreyas Iyer at the crease. Both players forged a vital 98-run stand to take their team to 128 in 29.2 overs. Patel was caught off Rachin Ravindra’s bowling.

His 42 off 61 deliveries featured three fours and one six. Following Axar’s wicket, KL Rahul joined Shreyas Iyer and added another 44-run partnership.

Iyer’s well-crafted knock of 79 ended courtesy of Will O’Rourke bowling.

He remained the top-scorer for India with a 98-ball 79, comprised of four fours and two sixes.

Following his dismissal, India fell to 223/7 in 45.5 overs after losing two additional wickets in rapid succession.

Nevertheless, Hardik Pandya’s quick innings of 45 runs at the end strengthened India’s total.

For New Zealand, Matt Henry was the top bowler claiming 5 wickets for 42 runs in eight overs, while Kyle Jamieson, O’Rourke, Mitchell Santner, and Ravindra each took one wicket.

Playing XIs

New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Read: Sunil Gavaskar slams former England captains, defends India’s Dubai advantage

Australia could be forced into a top-order reshuffle for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final after Matthew Short sustained a quad injury during the clash against Afghanistan.

The injury, picked up late in Afghanistan’s innings, is expected to rule him out of the knockout fixture.

Despite opening the batting alongside Travis Head, Short visibly struggled between the wickets, restricting himself mostly to boundary hitting.

He managed 20 off 15 balls in a solid 44-run stand in 4.3 overs before being caught at mid-on.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Speaking after the match, captain Steven Smith admitted that Short’s recovery in time for the semi-final seems unlikely.

“I think he’ll be struggling,” Smith said. “We saw tonight he wasn’t moving very well. It’s probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover.”

With Short’s likely absence, Jake Fraser-McGurk—who replaced the injured Mitchell Marsh in the squad—becomes the most straightforward replacement at the top of the order.

However, Australia could also consider a batting reshuffle, bringing in all-rounder Aaron Hardie as an alternative.

“We’ve got a few guys there to come in, and we’ll be able to fill a job,” Smith added.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Another option for Australia could be left-handed batter and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, a travelling reserve who might be officially added to the squad if Matthew Short is ruled out of the tournament.

Beyond his batting, Short’s absence would be a blow to Australia’s spin-bowling depth. He had delivered a tidy spell against Afghanistan, conceding just 21 runs in seven overs.

However, the Aussies still have part-time spin options in Head and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter having taken two wickets against England but not used in the last game.

With a semi-final spot secured in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia will now have to weigh their options and make a call on the best possible XI for the knockout clash.

READ: Nasser Hussain names Jos Buttler’s replacement as England’s captaincy

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Friday, revealed the schedule of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10, starting from 11 April 2025.

The PSL 10 will begin from Friday, 11 April with defending champions Islamabad United taking on two times champions Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The six-team tournament will see 34 matches from 11 April to 18 May, with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium set to host 13 matches, including two Eliminators and the final.

Also, the upcoming edition will feature an exhibition match, which will be played on 8 April in Peshawar. The teams of the match will be confirmed in due course.

According to the PSL 10 schedule, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including Qualifier 1 on 13 May. Karachi’s National Bank Stadium and Multan Cricket Stadium will host five matches each.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The marquee event will also feature three double-headers, with two matches on weekends (Saturday) and one on a national holiday (Labour Day).

Karachi Kings, the winners of the league’s fifth edition, will begin their campaign on 12 April in their own backyard against runners-up of the last edition, Multan Sultans.

The first PSL 10 match in Multan will be played on 22 April between the Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars.

The newly constructed Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will welcome the tenth edition of the PSL on 24 April with home side Qalandars, winners of the seventh and eighth editions, taking on Peshawar Zalmi.

Peshawar Zalmi, champions of the PSL 2017, will play their five matches at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the winners of the fourth edition, Quetta Gladiators, will play five matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.

“We are thrilled to officially announce the schedule for the historic 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League. Over the past decade, the HBL PSL has grown into a globally recognised tournament, showcasing the best of Pakistan’s cricketing talent,” said PSL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer.

“The fans in this year’s tournament will not only see high-profile international cricketers but will also witness 34 high-octane matches across four major cities—Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.

“As part of our commitment to expanding the reach of the HBL PSL, we are delighted to host an exhibition match in Peshawar before the start of the tournament, which is a significant step in bringing top-tier cricket to Peshawar, a city with a deep-rooted love for the game.

“We remain dedicated to enhancing the experience for players, fans, and stakeholders, who have witnessed some breathtaking contests in the league over the years.”

Schedule of PSL 10

11 April – Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

12 April – Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, National Bank Stadium, Karachi

13 April – Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

14 April – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

15 April – Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank Stadium, Karachi

16 April – Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

18 April – Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Stadium, Karachi

19 April – Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

20 April – Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, National Bank Stadium, Karachi

21 April – Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Stadium, Karachi

22 April – Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Multan Cricket Stadium

23 April – Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Multan Cricket Stadium

24 April – Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

25 April – Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

26 April – Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

27 April – Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

29 April – Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

30 April – Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

1 May – Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Multan Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

2 May – Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

3 May – Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

4 May – Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

5 May – Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Cricket Stadium

7 May – Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

8 May – Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

9 May – Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

10 May – Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

13 May – Qualifier 1, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

14 May – Eliminator 1, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

16 May – Eliminator 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

18 May – Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: David Boon steps down from ICC to join Cricket Australia

The arch-rivals Pakistan and India are set to clash again after their recent encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has reportedly finalised the window for the upcoming Asia Cup.

According to Indian media, the Asia Cup 2025, which is set to be played in T20 format, will be played in September. The highly anticipated continental tournament is set to feature a total of up to 19 matches; however, the venue has not been confirmed yet.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in India, but the decision to relocate it to a neutral venue arose from the complex dynamics between India and Pakistan.

The ACC officials are reportedly deliberating between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the BCCI remaining the designated hosts, to avoid any tensions between Pakistan and India.

For the unversed, the Indian government refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, forcing the apex cricketing body to adopt a hybrid model, with Team India playing their games in Dubai.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile, Pakistan will play their games in Sri Lanka during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, set to be hosted by the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Asia Cup 2025 will feature eight teams, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, besides India and Pakistan.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The best teams from the Super Four will then compete in the final.

This format guarantees at least two matches between Pakistan and India, with a possibility of a third if both teams qualify for the final.

There are four Asia Cups scheduled in the current cycle, which ends in 2031. After the 2025 edition, which will feature 19 matches, the 2027 edition will take place in Bangladesh and consist of 13 matches in the ODI format.

This will be followed by a T20 format tournament in 2029, hosted by the PCB but played in a neutral country and featuring 19 matches. Finally, the 2031 edition will be held in Sri Lanka in the ODI format, consisting of 13 matches.

READ: Jonathan Trott sends warning to Australia ahead of must-win Champions Trophy clash

RAWALPINDI: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh has been called off due to persistent rain here on Thursday.

The ground staff at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was forced to cover the pitch and protect the outfield due to heavy rain.

As the drizzle turned into a steady downpour, the ground crew swiftly placed covers over the pitch to ensure minimal damage, while the outfield was also covered to prevent excessive dampness.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The showers continued throughout the afternoon, which prevented the toss from taking place. The conditions were unsuitable for play as the umpires called off the game without a ball bowled.

Consequently, Pakistan and Bangladesh were awarded one point each, with both teams ending their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign without a victory.

Both teams had previously crashed out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the group stage after consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India.

For the record, Bangladesh (-0.443) finished the tournament above Pakistan (-1.087) on net run rate.

Bangladesh Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Haris Rauf.

READ: ‘He’s exactly what white-ball cricket needs’: Ian Bishop backs THIS batter for Pakistan return