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MIRPUR: Debutant opener Azan Awais starred with an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan finished the second day of the opening Test against Bangladesh in a commanding position at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors ended the day on 179-1 in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 413, with Azan unbeaten on 85 alongside fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal, who will resume Day 3 on 37*.

After a disciplined bowling display earlier in the day led by Mohammad Abbas, Pakistan carried their momentum into the batting innings and dominated the final two sessions.

Azan and Imam-ul-Haq laid the foundation with a solid 106-run opening stand, frustrating Bangladesh’s bowlers on a surface that had offered assistance earlier in the match.

The young left-hander brought up his maiden Test fifty during an assured knock filled with patience and composure, while Imam contributed 45 before Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided Bangladesh with the breakthrough.

Following Imam’s dismissal, Azan found another reliable partner in Abdullah Fazal as the two debutants comfortably negotiated the final session. The pair added an unbeaten 73 runs for the second wicket, taking Pakistan safely to stumps.

Earlier, Pakistan bowled Bangladesh out for 413 shortly after Lunch. Shaheen Afridi struck immediately after the break to remove veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who made a gritty 71 from 179 deliveries.

In the following over, Abbas completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Ebadot Hossain for a duck, leaving Bangladesh nine down.

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However, Pakistan were forced to wait for the final breakthrough as Taskin Ahmed launched a counter-attacking cameo. The tailender smashed 28 runs off just 19 balls before Shaheen eventually dismissed him to bowl Bangladesh out for 413.

Abbas was the standout performer for Pakistan with figures of 5-92, while Shaheen Afridi claimed three wickets. Hasan Ali and Noman Ali chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Bangladesh had resumed the day on 301-4 with Mushfiqur Rahim (48*) and Litton Das (8*) at the crease after the hosts dominated the opening day. The pair initially looked comfortable before Abbas broke through by dismissing Litton for 33.

The experienced pacer then removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz (10) and Taijul Islam (17) to leave Bangladesh at 378-7 before the Lunch.

Despite the collapse around him, Mushfiqur held firm to guide the hosts to 380-7 at Lunch before Pakistan completed the job in the second session.

The first day had largely belonged to the hosts, who piled up 301-4 courtesy of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s impressive 101 off 130 balls.

Mominul Haque also played a major role in the dominance, narrowly missing out on a century after falling for 91.

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MIRPUR: A record century from Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, ably backed by Mominul Haque’s half-century, left the home side in a commanding position against Pakistan at the end of day one of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

At the end of the day’s play, the home side racked up 301 for the loss of four wickets in 85 overs, with Mushfiqur Rahim remaining unbeaten on 48 with the aid of six boundaries. On the other hand, Litton Das held firm, scoring eight not out off 35 deliveries.

After toiling hard, Pakistan bowlers tried to make a comeback in the final session as Noman Ali provided the much-needed breakthrough with Haque’s wicket. The left-arm spinner broke a 75-run partnership as Haque was trapped lbw for 91 in the 73rd off the innings. He hit 10 fours in his crafty knock.

After his dismissal, Mushfiqur and Das safely negotiated the remaining 12 overs, ensuring the hosts finish strong on the opening day of the series.

For Pakistan, Noman Ali remained the solitary wicket-taker in the session.

Earlier, Shanto fell in the final over of the second session after playing a commanding knock of 101 off 130 balls. This was also his fifth ton as skipper, the most by any Bangladesh captain.

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Bangladesh went to Tea with 201-3 on the board, courtesy of a dominant 170-run partnership between Shanto and Mominul Haque.

Mominul resumed his innings at 64 after Tea, while veteran wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim was yet to open his account.

In the first session, Bangladesh had scored 101-2 after they were invited to bat first, with captain Shanto unbeaten on 39 while Mominul remained steady on 31.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood elected to field first, and the visitors made an encouraging start through Shaheen Shah Afridi, who removed opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for eight with just 18 runs on the board.

The pressure intensified shortly after when Hasan Ali struck in his very first over, dismissing Shadman Islam for 13 to leave Bangladesh struggling at 31-2 in the morning session.

However, the hosts responded positively through a composed rebuilding effort from Shanto and Mominul.

The experienced pair absorbed the early pressure before gradually shifting momentum back in Bangladesh’s favour with a patient and unbeaten 70-run stand for the third wicket at the end of the first session.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday the schedule for the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia, set to begin on May 30. 

The 2023 World Cup winners will touch down in Islamabad on 23 May ahead of the first ODI, which will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The last two matches of the series are scheduled at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and 4. All three ODIs will start at 4:30pm local time, with the toss at 4pm.

“Australia will arrive in Islamabad on 23 May and take on the hosts in the first ODI scheduled at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 30 May,” the board said in a press release statement.

“The second and third ODIs of the series between both sides will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 2 and 4 June, respectively,” it added.

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After completing the tour, Australia will head to Bangladesh for a three-match ODI and T20 series.

For the unversed, it will be Australia’s first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. The series is continuation of Australia’s tour of Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in January and February, where Pakistan completed a 3-0 clean sweep over them.

Australia also visited Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, registering a five-wicket win over England at the same venue on 22 February.

Pakistan-Australia Series schedule

23 May – Australia arrive in Islamabad
30 May – First ODI, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
2 June – Second ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
4 June – Third ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: Sri Lanka confirm participation in Pakistan ODI tri-series

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ: Warwickshire Bears sign Usman Tariq for T20 Blast 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ace batter Babar Azam has been named as captain of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Team of the Tournament.

The team was picked by a five-member committee from the commentary panel, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed in a press release.

“Team of HBL PSL 11 consists of three players each from Peshawar Zalmi, Hyderabad Kingsmen, two each from Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United and one each from Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators,” the statement read.

Babar led Peshawar Zalmi to title glory — ending their nine-year wait for a trophy. The right-hander amassed 588 runs, finishing as the leading run scorer, recording two centuries.

He is joined at the top by Fakhar Zaman, who racked up 401 runs off eight matches to finish third in the season.

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis also earned a spot after a prolific campaign, finishing as the second-highest run getter with 550 runs, including four fifties and one century.

 

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The middle order features Shan Masood, who scored 367 runs at an average of 45.87, alongside Shadab Khan, who was named the tournament’s best all-rounder for his impactful performances with both bat and ball.

The wicket-keeping duties have been handed to Usman Khan, who made 389 runs, including a century and three half-centuries.

Among the bowlers, Sufyan Moqim was the standout performer, claiming 22 wickets with his left-arm wrist spin at an impressive average of 14.40 and an economy rate of 7.20. He was also adjudged Player of the Tournament and Best Bowler.

Hassan Khan and emerging star Hunain Shah are also in the lineup, scoring 139 runs at a strike rate of 195 and taking six wickets, while Hunain picked up 17 wickets in 10 matches, finishing among the leading wicket-takers despite missing early games.

Shaheen Shah Afridi also made the cut, taking 16 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 18.18.

England pacer Richard Gleeson bolsters the pace attack. who impressed with the new ball, claimed 12 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 7.13.

Meanwhile, Hasan Nawaz of Quetta Gladiators was named the 12th player after scoring 291 runs in 10 matches, including two half-centuries.

 PSL 11 Team of the Tournament

Babar Azam (PZ) (c), Fakhar Zaman (LQ), Kusal Mendis (PZ) (wk), Shan Masood (MS), Shadab Khan (IU), Hassan Khan (HK), Shaheen Shah Afridi (LQ), Hunain Shah (HK), Sufyan Moqim (PZ), Richard Gleeson (IU), Hasan Nawaz (QG) (12th)

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LAHORE: Skipper Babar Azam ended his wait for a first major title as Peshawar Zalmi crushed Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Zalmi chased down a partly 130 in 15.3 overs, thanks to Hardie’s unbeaten half-century.

This ends a nine-year wait for Zalmi since their maiden triumph in 2017. The victory also marked the first major trophy as captain for star batter Babar Azam.

The innings got off to a disastrous start as Mohammad Haris (6) and skipper Babar Azam (0) fell in the opening over to Mohammad Ali, leaving Zalmi reeling.

Hardie then steadied the chase alongside Kusal Mendis (9) before further setbacks saw Zalmi slump to 40/4 after Michael Bracewell (4) was dismissed by Akif Javed.

With pressure mounting, Hardie combined with Abdul Samad in a decisive 85-run partnership that turned the match in Zalmi’s favour. Samad scored a brisk 48 off 34 deliveries, including four sixes, before falling in the 15th over.

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Hardie, however, remained composed and guided the chase to completion with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls, striking nine boundaries to seal a memorable victory in the Pakistan Super League final.

Mohammad Ali was the standout bowler for Hyderabad Kingsmen with figures of 3/38, while Hunain Shah and Akif Javed took one wicket each.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Aaron Hardie wreaked havoc with the ball to dismantle Hyderabad Kingsmen for a mere total in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Asked to bat first, Hyderabad Kingsmen collapsed from 71-3 to 129 all out in 18 overs.

Maaz Sadaqat was caught for 11 in the second over off Mohammad Basit’s bowling. Following an early blow, skipper Marnus Labuschagne and Saim Ayub batted with responsibility.

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LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Head to Head

Both teams have played only once, as Kingsmen are playing their maiden season. Peshawar Zalmi won the first encounter by four wickets.

Playing XIs

Hyderabad Kingsmen XI: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed

Peshawar Zalmi XI: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Sufyan Moqim, Basit Ali, Nahid Rana

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LAHORE: The tickets for the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 between Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen have been sold out, the league’s social media handle confirmed on Sunday.

The announcement on social media confirmed a full house ahead of the summit clash.

“SOLD OUT Zinda dilana Lahoriyon — it’s a house full for the Grand Finale,” the post caption read.

The final will be contested between the 2017 champions, Peshawar Zalmi, and the tournament debutants, Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Babar Azam’s Zalmi secured a spot in the final by defeating Islamabad United by 70 runs in the Qualifier. Meanwhile, Kingsmen, who finished fourth in the league stage, upset Multan Sultans and the three-time champions in the Eliminators to reach the final.

These teams previously faced off during the league, where Zalmi narrowly won a tense match by four wickets on the last ball.

This marks Zalmi’s fifth PSL final appearance under Babar Azam, and Kingsmen’s debut season ended with a historic run to the final. In their last game, Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 145 in 18.2 overs, with Kusal Perera top-scoring at 58 off 35 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Captain Marnus Labuschagne scored 27 from 27 balls.

Squads:

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, Tanzid Hasan, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Kashif Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousuf, Brian Bennett, Mohammad Basit and Shoriful Islam

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Marnus Labuschagne (c), Hassan Khan (vc), Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Ali, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Glenn Maxwell, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali, Tayyab Arif, Maheesh Theekshana and Ahmed Hussain

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