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DUBAI: Pakistan emerging batter Sameer Minhas broke multiple records with a monumental knock against Malaysia in the second fixture of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 here at The Sevens Stadium on Friday.

Minhas, playing his first Youth ODI game, hit an unbeaten 177 off 148 balls peppered with 19 boundaries and eight maximums.

Pakistan’s innings began on a shaky note as Usman Khan departed cheaply for a single, trapped by Nagineswaran Sathnakumaran in the second over with just four runs on the board.

Ali Hassan Baloch tried to steady the innings before being dismissed for 14.

At 30-2 in the 10th over, Sameer was joined by Ahmed, and they compiled a 293-run stand at a brisk pace.

Sameer Minhas forged a mammoth stand with Ahmed Hussain, which completely turned the game in Pakistan’s favour.

The duo compiled a 293-run stand at a brisk pace, which helped Pakistan reach a daunting 345-run total in 50 overs.

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Ahmed Hussain scored a lively 132 off 144 balls, featuring eight boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed hit-wicket off Muhammad Akram in the penultimate over.

With his epic knock, Sameer not only became Pakistan’s highest scorer in Youth ODIs but also set the record for the highest score in the U19 Asia Cup.

Highest individual score by a Pakistani batter in YODIs

Sameer Minhas – 177 not out against Malaysia in 2025
Shahzaib Khan – 159 against India in 2024
Shamyl Hussain – 150 against Sri Lanka in 2023
Abdul Razzaq – 142 against Australia in 1997
Shahid Yousuf – 136 not out against Sri Lanka in 2003

In reply,  Malaysia’s U19 side capitulated for just 48 in 19.4 overs.

Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam shared three wickets apiece, Daniyal Ali Khan claimed two, and Niqab Shafiq chipped in with one.

None of the Malaysian batters managed to reach double figures, with captain Patro and Akram top-scoring with nine runs each.

READ: Warner names Usman Khawaja’s replacement in Test side

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the extension of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams bidding deadline amid growing interest from around the globe.

Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB, wrote about the extension on his ‘X’ handle in which he also mentioned the upcoming second roadshow aimed at attracting investors worldwide.

“Witnessing growing interest from the Europe, USA, the Middle East and beyond in acquiring new HBL PSL teams, we have decided to extend the bid submission deadline by one week to 22 December 2025,” Mohsin Naqvi wrote.

“Good luck to everyone, excited to welcome our new franchise owners to the HBL PSL family.”

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This comes after the PSL’s first roadshow, held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. The event was attended by Pakistan star players Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, and former cricketers.

After the first roadshow, the PCB is set to host another global roadshow in New York tomorrow, which will engage international investors ahead of the auction of the two new outfits.

“The New York Roadshow is part of the PCB’s global outreach strategy aimed at engaging with international investors ahead of the auction of two HBL PSL franchises, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 6 January 2026,” the board had said in a press release.

“The initiative is designed to highlight the league’s commercial strength, global following, and long-term growth potential,” the statement added.

It is pertinent to mention that PSL, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans.

With the addition of two new teams, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

READ: Warner names Usman Khawaja’s replacement in Test side

David Warner has named opener Matt Renshaw as the long-term replacement of Usman Khawaja in the Australia Test side. 

Khawaja, 38, has been in the spotlight after being ruled out of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba due to injury.

The southpaw could not field in the opening Test because of a back spasm, which subsequently pushed Australia to move Travis Head up the order with debutant Jake Weatherald.

Speaking ahead of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, Warna answered questions about Usman Khawaja’s place in the side ahead of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, starting on 17 December.

Warner backed Khawaja to open, stating that Travis Head batting down the order will pose a major threat to England bowlers.

“I think Uzzy (Khawaja) comes back in, slides to the top, and Trav (Head) goes down,” Warner told reporter.

“That’s probably a worse result for England, Travis Head going back down the order,” he cautioned.

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The 39-year-old emphasized Head’s attacking mindset, noting that the left-hander will be ready to bat up the order if needed.

“At the end of the day, Travis put his hand up to bat in the situation he was in,” he explained.

“He came out and batted in the way Travis Head does. You see plenty of interviews from Trav saying that is Uzzy’s spot, and if when the time comes they ask him to go up the order, he wouldn’t mind to do that.

David Warner also named Matt Renshaw as Usman Khawaja’s successor in the Australian Test side while admitting that the former has to score runs in a bid to extend his career.

“But moving forward, Renshaw could be one (option for replacement). I think he’ll slide straight back in there. He’s had a taste of Test cricket,” Warner said.

The 29-year-old Matt Renshaw has played 14 Tests and scored 645 runs at an average of 29.31, with his last Test appearance coming against India in 2023.

At the end of the day, you still have to score runs.” “You’ll deserve the dream farewell if you score runs and the selectors stick by you,” he concluded.

READ: Finch hails Pakistan players as ‘global superstars’ ahead of BBL

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was “completely relaxed” about his side’s dip in form as he seeks greater consistency ahead of Saturday’s home match against Everton.

The Blues thumped Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League on November 25 and earned an impressive 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal days later.

But they have not won since, losing at Leeds and Atalanta and drawing with Bournemouth.

Chelsea boss Maresca was Friday named Premier League manager of the month for November, in recognition of his side’s unbeaten record.

“We are in December now,” he said, laughing, at his press conference.

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“This kind of thing is because you do the right things in terms of performance and results,” he added.

“For us, November was fantastic. December, we didn’t start in the way we would like, even if it’s just one week ago, we played Leeds (a 3-1 defeat on December 3).

“So it’s just three games in a row in one week that we didn’t get the results that we expect but we are now focused on the next one.”

Chelsea, who won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup last season, are fifth in the Premier League, eight points behind Arsenal.

Maresca said he was relaxed about Chelsea’s mini-slump.

“It’s football, it’s completely normal,” he said. “I understand most of the time we are always looking for problems or things we need to solve.

“The Leeds game was last Wednesday, eight or nine days ago. We are not going to change our season because we didn’t get the points that we expect.

“But I’m completely relaxed, I’m completely OK because I’m sure that at the end of the season we’re going to be where we have to be.”

The Italian admitted that improving consistency was the next step for his young squad.

“In terms of human beings, it’s impossible to be all season at the same level but for sure probably we need to learn things and to avoid that in the the future,” he said.

Maresca said forward Cole Palmer should be available to face Everton after missing Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by Atalanta.

READ: Liverpool boss Slot to hold talks with unhappy Salah

DUBAI: India teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi slammed a 95-ball 171 to propel his side to a 234-run victory over UAE in the opening match of the ACC U19 Asia Cup here at the ICC Academy on Friday. 

Chasing a massive 434-run target, UAE could only muster 179-7 in their allotted 50 overs.

Uddish Suri remained the top scorer for UAE with 78* off 106, striking five fours and a six. Prithvi Madhu was the other notable contributor, scoring 50 off 87 laced with four boundaries and two sixes.

In pursuit of a daunting target, UAE could not get going as they lost wickets right from the start. Indian bowlers Henil Patel and Kishan Singh started the proceddings with wicket each.

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They set the tone early, and other bowlers followed suit. As a result, half of the UAE’s batters were back in the pavilion at the end of the 11th over.

India further mounted pressure with Noorullah Ayobi’s (3) wicket in the 13th over until Uddish Suri and Prithvi Madhu’s 85-run partnership, which provided them some respite.

However, it was not enough, with the asking rate ballooning, and eventually UAE fell short by a hefty margin.

For India, Deepesh Devendran scalped two wickets in his seven overs.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, India racked up 433-6 in their 50 overs.

14-year-old Suryavanshi hit 171 off just 95, studded with 14 sixes and nine fours. Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra scored 69 runs respectively.

The highlight of the Indian innings was a monumental partnership between Suryavanshi and George, who added 212 for the second wicket.

For the UAE, Uddish Suri and Yug Sharma managed to take two wickets in their quota of 10 overs.

The much-anticipated clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India will be played on Sunday, 14 December.

READ: Kohli, Rohit set for demotion in BCCI central contracts: reports

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch lavished praise on Pakistan cricketers set to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, stating that they are ‘global superstars’ and crucial for

Finch called the Pakistan players vital to Australian cricket, noting that they are global superstars.

“They’re not just Pakistan players, they’re Pakistan superstars, they’re global superstars. That’s so important to our game because they’re such great players,” Finch said during a podcast.

“I think that that is so important that that knowledge is passed on and that’s why having internationals is so crucial in our game,” he continued.

Finch lavished praise on Babar Azam despite the latter’s dip in form over the last couple of years.

“You’ve got one of the best players that I’ve ever played against. I played against Babar in Pakistan, and it was almost impossible to get him out,” Finch recalled.

“I know he’s been a little bit more quiet in the last 18 months, but he’s a world-beater at his very best,” he explained.

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The 39-year-old also talked about wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who will be making his debut for the Melbourne Renegades.

“Mohammad Rizwan never shuts up behind the stumps, but seriously talented,” Finch said.

“I was talking to Jake Fraser-McGurk earlier at a shoot that we’re doing together, and I know we’re going to chat to him soon, but he was talking about what he’s learned off Rizwan already in the couple of days that he’s been here.”

“It’s incredible what it means, not for the players to be involved themselves, but for our players to learn as much as they can,” he concluded.

For the unversed, several Pakistani players will be in action in the BBL 15.

The tournament, running from December 14 to January 25, 2026, will feature 44 matches. Notably, most of the tournament’s fixtures will be played primarily in prime-time evening slots.

Alongside Babar and Shaheen, several other Pakistan internationals will feature this season: Mohammad Rizwan and Hassan Khan will line up for Melbourne Renegades, Haris Rauf has signed with Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan with Sydney Thunder, and Hasan Ali with Adelaide Strikers.

READ: Kohli, Rohit set for demotion in BCCI central contracts: reports

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he would speak to Mohamed Salah on Friday morning before deciding on the forward’s availability for this weekend’s match against Brighton.

The Egypt international accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench for last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds, the third match in a row that he did not start.

Salah also said he had no relationship with the Dutch manager when he spoke to reporters after the match at Elland Road.

The 33-year-old was left out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in a gym at the club’s training ground.

“I will have a conversation with Mo this morning; the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow,” Slot told his pre-match press conference.

“I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying, but there is not much more to say about it.

“After the Sunderland game (a 1-1 draw on December 3 in which Salah came on as a second-half substitute), there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me.”

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Slot batted away further questions from reporters about the forward, but said: “I have no reason not wanting him to stay, and that is a little bit of an answer to your question.”

Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, which made him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League, is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after Saturday’s Brighton game at Anfield.

The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.

Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals in 420 appearances, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his spell on Merseyside.

He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals in 13 appearances this season.

Liverpool are 10th in the table after a shocking run, with just two wins in their past 10 Premier League games.

Salah has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League.

READ: Sameer, Ahmed strike tons as Pakistan crush Malaysia in U19 Asia Cup

DUBAI: Pakistan batters Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain put on a masterclass to hammer Malaysia by a massive 297 runs in the second match of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 at The Sevens Stadium on Friday.

After Malaysia captain Deeaz Patro elected to field first, Pakistan’s top and middle order took full advantage, posting a commanding 345-3 in their 50 overs.

The innings was anchored by a sensational third-wicket partnership between Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain, which completely turned the game in Pakistan’s favour.

Pakistan’s innings began on a shaky note as Usman Khan departed cheaply for a single, trapped by Nagineswaran Sathnakumaran in the second over with just four runs on the board.

Ali Hassan Baloch tried to steady the innings before being dismissed for 14.

At 30-2 in the 10th over, Sameer was joined by Ahmed, and they compiled a 293-run stand at a brisk pace.

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Ahmed Hussain scored a lively 132 off 144 balls, featuring eight boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed hit-wicket off Muhammad Akram in the penultimate over.

Sameer Minhas stole the show with an unbeaten 177 from 148 deliveries, laced with 11 fours and eight sixes.

Malaysia’s bowling attack struggled to contain the onslaught. Sathnakumaran took two wickets but was expensive, conceding 91 runs in his full quota of 10 overs, while Akram returned with figures of 1-64.

Chasing an imposing target, Malaysia’s U19 side capitulated for just 48 in 19.4 overs.

Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam shared three wickets apiece, Daniyal Ali Khan claimed two, and Niqab Shafiq chipped in with one.

None of the Malaysian batters managed to reach double figures, with captain Patro and Akram top-scoring with nine runs each.

READ: Kohli, Rohit set for demotion in BCCI central contracts: reports

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are reportedly headed for a demotion in the upcoming BCCI central contracts cycle for 2025–26, with Indian media claiming the matter will be taken up during the cricket board’s apex council meeting on December 22.

According to the reports, the BCCI is expected to revisit the grading of its senior-most players, with Kohli and Rohit likely to drop from the top A+ bracket due to their reduced involvement in India’s multi-format setup.

Both players stepped away from T20Is following the 2024 World Cup and later withdrew from Test cricket earlier this year, leaving ODI cricket as their only active format.

The BCCI’s central contracts are divided into four tiers, A+, A, B, and C, with the highest category reserved for India’s premier all-format performers.

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With the shift in roles and reduced availability of the senior pair, India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill is expected to be promoted to the A+ list.

Kohli and Rohit continued to hold A+ contracts in the 2024–25 cycle alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja despite their retirements from longer formats.

However, the latest reports indicate that the board is now prepared to adjust their status, marking the first major revision to their positioning in several years.

A demotion would also mean a financial hit for the two modern greats. The A+ category carries an annual retainer of INR 7 crore, while the A bracket offers INR 5 crore, a reduction of INR 2 crore per player.

READ: Pakistan push Argentina to limit but fall short 3–2 in Pro League clash

Pakistan produced a spirited performance but still came away empty-handed, slipping to a narrow 3–2 defeat against Argentina in their FIH Pro League fixture at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club.

In a five-goal contest that swung with momentum throughout, the hosts backed up their shoot-out win over the Netherlands a day earlier by claiming full points against a resurgent Pakistan side.

Pakistan began with impressive intent, pressing aggressively and creating clearer early openings.

Waheed Ashraf Rana forced Tomas Santiago into a sharp save from close range, before narrowly missing the far post on his second attempt.

Argentina, meanwhile, struggled to make their penalty corners count, with Tomas Domene’s backhand only catching the side netting.

The breakthrough eventually came for the hosts in the second quarter.

Thomas Habif’s incisive baseline run opened the play for Ignacio Nardolillo, who squared for Domene to finish from point-blank range, the only goal separating the sides at halftime.

The match came alive after the break, as Pakistan drew level through Muhammad Ammad, who cleverly redirected a Zikriya Hayat pass to make it 1–1.

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But Argentina responded instantly, showcasing their penalty-corner class.

Nicolas della Torre struck low to restore the lead, before Maico Casella added a second in quick succession with a powerful flick into the top of the net following a series of re-awards.

Pakistan replied with pressure of their own, earning three consecutive re-awards before Waleed Rana pounced on a rebound to trim the deficit to 3–2 just before the third-quarter whistle.

Both Pakistan and Argentina created half-chances in the final period, but the home team’s defensive discipline and earlier set-piece precision ensured the scoreline stayed intact.

Thomas Habif’s influential display earned him the Player of the Match award.

The result follows Pakistan’s 5–2 loss to defending champions Netherlands on their Pro League debut at the same venue.

The Green Shirts will meet the Dutch again on December 13, before concluding their opening Pro League stint against Argentina on December 15.

READ: Shadab Khan excited for Babar Azam clash in BBL comeback