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The ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament is likely to witness the trophy controversy that marred the final of the senior men’s tournament in September, according to sources.

The Rising Stars tournament, formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup, is underway at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, featuring eight teams.

The teams are split into two groups, with Group A featuring Pakistan Shaheens, India A, the UAE, and Oman, while Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A, and Hong Kong are placed in Group B.

The final is set for November 23, with ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expected to attend as the chief guest.

Given the strength of the squads and their early performances, a Pakistan Shaheens vs India A final remains a realistic and intriguing possibility.

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But with that comes the baggage of what unfolded in September, when India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy directly from Naqvi and did not attend the closing ceremony.

The trophy still sits with the ACC, awaiting an official handover should India agree to receive it at a separate event.

Notably, India’s refusal to engage in handshakes with Pakistani teams, a pattern that began during the senior Asia Cup, has now become a recurring feature across formats.

The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 saw the same behaviour, and the latest chapter came on Sunday in Doha, when India A captain Jitesh Sharma and Pakistan Shaheens skipper Irfan Niazi skipped the customary handshake at the toss.

On the field, however, Pakistan Shaheens delivered a statement performance, defeating India A by eight wickets to top Group B and secure a place in the semifinals.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi hails Pakistan’s clinical sweep over Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has praised the team’s growing consistency and unity after the national side wrapped up a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Sri Lanka on Sunday.

In a message shared on X, Naqvi congratulated the players, coaches, and support staff, noting that the back-to-back series wins in T20Is and ODIs reflect a team steadily finding its rhythm.

“Well done boys! Congratulations to all the players on a brilliant clean sweep in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, after winning the T20I series as well,” he wrote.

“Back-to-back dominant performances. Proud of our players, coaches, and management for their hard work and spirit. Please trust and believe in these boys—they are giving their all for the country.”

Well Done Boys , Congratulations to all the players on a brilliant clean sweep in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, after winning the T20I series as well.
Back to back dominant performances, proud of our players, coaches and management for their hard work and spirit.
Please trust… pic.twitter.com/xr4cIi1Kr3

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) November 16, 2025

He urged fans to stand firmly behind the squad, emphasising that the group is putting in exceptional effort behind the scenes.

Pakistan’s performance in the final ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium carried the same authority that defined the entire series.

Chasing a modest 212-run target, the hosts cruised home in 44.4 overs with eight wickets to spare.

Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with a composed 61 not out off 92 balls, while Hussain Talat’s steady 42 kept the chase comfortably on track.

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Earlier, the bowlers had set the tone with a disciplined display that dismantled Sri Lanka for 211 in 45.2 overs.

Mohammad Wasim Jr. led the charge with three wickets, ensuring the visitors were never allowed momentum.

Haris Rauf, whose impactful spells throughout the series repeatedly broke partnerships, was named Man of the Series, an achievement Naqvi described as “outstanding” and a proud moment for both player and country.

“Special congratulations to Haris Rauf on being awarded Man of the Series. Outstanding bowling throughout. A great moment for Pakistan cricket and our fans,” Naqvi added.

READ: Jannik Sinner beats great rival Carlos Alcaraz to retain ATP Finals title

TURIN: Jannik Sinner retained the ATP Finals title on Sunday after beating Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 and ending a turbulent season with victory over his great rival.

Italian Sinner brought the house down in Turin by winning the championship match that tennis fans wanted to see, adding the prestigious year-ending tournament to the Australian Open and a landmark triumph at Wimbledon this season.

The 24-year-old also bounced back from a three-month ban, which chopped out a large chunk of his season despite the World Anti-Doping Agency accepting that the Italian was accidentally contaminated with the banned substance clostebol last year.

Sinner has now won 31 straight matches on indoor hard courts, a run which stretches back to the 2023 championship match at Turin’s Inalpi Arena, which he lost to Novak Djokovic.

Four more wins on indoor hard courts would draw him level with Djokovic’s tally set between 2012 and 2015, the second-highest in the Open era, but some way behind John McEnroe’s record of 47.

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He hasn’t dropped a set at the Finals since losing that final to the Serb two years ago, and he was imperious over the week in northern Italy.

While both Sinner and Alcaraz breezed into the final, the championship game was an attritional affair, with each player rock-solid on serve until an enthralling tie-break at the end of the first set.

Sinner took the lead thanks to a brilliant lob which set up a set point, and he made no mistake with a missile of a serve which Alcaraz could only limply send wide.

But Sinner immediately handed Alcaraz the advantage in the second set with two double-faults, which helped hand his opponent a break of serve at the start of the frame.

Sinner hadn’t dropped a service game in the whole tournament up to that point, but he broke back in game six to put the crowd on their feet.

And Sinner collapsed to the ground in joy when Alcaraz sent a backhand wide on the first championship point, before heading into the stands to share his joy with his family amid the roars of the crowd.

READ: Haaland strikes as Norway thump Italy to reach first World Cup since 1998

MILAN: Norway qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after Erling Haaland struck again in a 4-1 thumping of Italy on Sunday, which sealed a spot in the 2026 edition in the United States of America (USA), Canada and Mexico.

Haaland scored the decisive brace in the space of seconds at a soaking San Siro for Norway, who completed Group I with a perfect 24 points from their eight qualifying matches.

Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group’s only automatic place for next summer’s finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken’s side gloriously ended their campaign in front of 70,000 people.

However, Solbakken was coy as to his powerful team’s chances now that a 28-year weight has come to an end.

Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, was still an international player when Norway last competed in the World Cup 27 years ago, a tournament won by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France.

 

And the Manchester City striker, called a “goal machine” by Solbakken, will be one of the players to watch in North America after smashing in 16 goals during qualifying.

The 25-year-old is averaging more than a goal a game for club and country this season and was typically ruthless when presented with his opportunities to both put Norway ahead and then double their lead in the 78th and 79th minutes.

Pio Esposito opened the scoring for Italy in the 11th minute, but once Antonio Nusa levelled with a thumping strike in the 63rd minute, there was only one team that looked like winning, and Jorgen Strand Larsen’s brilliant individual goal completed the rout in stoppage time.

Italy will head to the play-offs in March after finishing the group six points behind Norway following two bracing defeats to Solbakken’s team, and exited the San Siro field to a hail of whistles from the few home fans who had stayed until the end.

READ: Portugal hammer Armenia to qualify for World Cup 2026

Portugal crushed Armenia 9-1 without suspended talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals on Sunday.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves both scored hat-tricks as Roberto Martinez’s side racked up a huge win in Porto to top Group F.

Renato Veiga got the ball rolling for Portugal, with Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also on the scoresheet.

After a draw in Hungary in October and a surprise defeat at Ireland on Thursday in which Ronaldo was sent off, Portugal wrapped up qualification at the third attempt in their final group match.

They will compete in a seventh consecutive edition of the World Cup, a tournament which the Euro 2016 champions are yet to win.

With Manchester United midfielder Fernandes playing a key role throughout, Portugal made a quick start by scoring in the seventh minute.

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Fernandes’s vicious inswinging free-kick from just outside the left side of the box was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Henri Avagyan but Veiga was on hand to head home the rebound.

The visitors shocked the hosts by scoring on their first attack to equalise, with Grant-Leon Ranos crossing for Armenia captain Eduard Spertsyan to strike.

However Portugal quickly stepped up a gear and racked up an unassailable lead. Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramos intercepted a back pass and squeezed home his country’s second after rounding Avagyan.

Portugal put together a tidy move for their third, with Neves blasting home from the edge of the box after being teed up by Fernandes.

Neves netted a spectacular second with a free-kick which flew into the top right corner, leaving Avagyan with no chance.

Fernandes netted the fifth in first-half stoppage time with a low penalty after Ruben Dias was fouled.

The Manchester United midfielder continued where he left off after the break, slotting home his second after being fed by Ramos.

Fernandes completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after debutant substitute Carlos Forbs was felled.

Neves followed suit for Portugal’s eighth goal, smashing home after Veiga headed Fernandes’s cross into his path.

Juventus forward Conceicao added the ninth in stoppage time to seal one of his country’s biggest ever victories.

Ireland stunned Hungary with a late winner to triumph 3-2 in the other Group F match and reach the play-offs, with Troy Parrott following up his midweek brace against Portugal with a hat-trick.

READ: Shaheen Afridi hails team effort after whitewash over Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ODI skipper Shaheen Afridi has hailed the team effort and stated that ‘rotation policy’ is working well for his side after their triumph over Sri Lanka in the three-match series.

Pakistan completed a whitewash over the Islanders with a comprehensive win in the final match of the series.

The Green Shirts chased down a partly 212-run target in 44.4 overs with eight wickets in hand. Mohammad Rizwan starred with the bat, scoring 61* from 92 balls with the help of four balls.

Hussain Talat was also impressive for his 42 from 57 balls, with the help of a boundary.

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Earlier, a clinical performance helped the home side bundle out visitors for a mere 211 in 45.2 overs. Mohammad Wasim Junior shone with the ball and picked up a three-wicket haul.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Shaheen hailed his side and cited the rotation policy as a driving factor behind the team’s winning momentum.

“Winning the series, really happy for that. Everyone played a good role in the previous series against South Africa and in this one as well. The rotation policy is working well for us, and the entire squad is ready to contribute at any stage,” he said.

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He also praised Faisal Akram, who played his first ODI match of the series and delivered an impressive spell with two wickets to his name.

“Faisal bowled really well, and it was great to see Wasim come back after injury and earn his first Player of the Match award. Special mention to Haris Rauf as well,” Afridi said.

READ: Pakistan Shaheens thump India A to reach Asia Cup Rising Stars semi-final

DOHA: All-round Maaz Sadaqat propelled Pakistan Shaheens to a victory over India A here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan chased down the mere target of 137 with ease, losing just two wickets in the process with 40 balls to spare.

Maaz Sadaqat top-scored with 79* from 47 deliveries, studded with seven fours and four maximums, whereas Mohammad Faiq remained unbeaten on 16 from 14 balls with the help of a boundary and a six.

Saqadat added a 55-run partnership with Mohammad Naeem for the opening wicket in 5.3 overs. Naeem was caught by Naman Dhir after scoring 14 from 10 balls with the help of a six and a four.

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Meanwhile, Sadaqat continued and registered his second half-century in the tournament. He, alongside Yasir Khan, brought the score to 94 in 9.3 overs.  Yasir was dismissed after making 11 from 9, hitting two boundaries.

Mohammad Faiq came in to bat alongside Sadaqat as Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark in the 10th over, getting closer to securing their second win of the tournament.

Sadaqat maintained his dominance, hitting a series of boundaries with Faiq, as Pakistan reached 130-2 in 13 overs.

For India, Suyash Sharma and Yash Thakur were solitary wicket takers.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, India’s innings folded for a mere 136 in 19 overs. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya put on a 30-run partnership for the first wicket in 3.2 overs before the latter was caught by Shahid Aziz’s bowling.

Suryavanshi and Naman Dhir paired up for the second wicket and brought the total to 79 in 8.1 overs before a collapse saw them bundled out before their 20 overs.

Suryavanshi made a brisk 45 from 28, striking five fours and three sixes, while Arya remained the second-highest scorer with 35 from 20 balls. Arya’s knock included half a dozen fours and a six.

For Pakistan, Shahid Aziz picked up a three-wicket haul, whereas Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood scalped two apiece.

Playing XIs

India A: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Jitesh Sharma (capt, wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma

Pakistan Shaheens: Yasir Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghori, Muhammad Khan, Chadhry Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufyan Muqeem, Ubaid Shah, Ahmad Latif

READ: India, Pakistan blind women show cricketing spirit with handshakes

India and Pakistan women teams brushed aside political tensions on Sunday, shaking hands in neutral Sri Lanka at a Blind women cricket tournament for the visually impaired.

At what organisers describe as the world’s first blind women’s T20 tournament, players from the two South Asian neighbours showed they had sporting vision even if they lacked sight — unlike their regular national teams.

Tensions off and on the field have been high since a deadly military clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.

India’s men refused to shake hands with their Pakistani opponents at the Asia Cup in September, since when neither side has shown signs of making up.

That animosity spread to the women’s sides, who declined any greeting at the recent T20 World Cup, and also to Sunday’s men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup tie in Doha.

India’s blind players were expected to mirror the conduct of their sighted teams when there was no handshake after the toss, but at the end of the match, both sides warmly greeted each other.

The two sides, who travelled to the venue together in the same bus, not only shook hands but also exchanged generous compliments.

India won by eight wickets in just 10.2 overs after Pakistan were restricted to 135 for eight in their 20 overs at the Free Trade Zone grounds in Katunayake, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Colombo.

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Pakistan skipper Nimra Rafique congratulated India on their comprehensive victory, while her Indian counterpart T. C. Deepika said Pakistan had played well.

The teams applauded one another loudly, but neither set of players was permitted to talk to the press.

There were hardly any spectators but the match was shown live on Sri Lanka’s national television, Rupavahini. Blind Sri Lankan officials hosting the tournament “watched” the match on YouTube by listening to the commentary.

Indian team manager Shika Shetty told AFP before the match that the tournament was opening up opportunities for more women.

“This is the first-ever World Cup for blind women… I think this is one of the biggest opportunities for our entire visually impaired girls,” said Shetty, who is not blind.

“Maybe many girls with disabilities will come out from their villages. Maybe they will come for studies, maybe they will come for the sport. So it is helpful for other girls too.”

Blind cricket relies on a sharp ear, as players must detect a white plastic ball — the size of a tennis ball — filled with ball bearings that rattle as it moves.

Pakistan coach Tahir Mehmood Butt, also speaking before the game, said the launch of women’s blind cricket had created new opportunities for young players in Pakistan.

“For the totally blind, if they have good hearing, they can become good cricketers,” Tahir told AFP.

Each team must field at least four completely blind players, three who can see up to two metres, and four partially sighted players able to see up to about six metres.

Totally blind batters may have a partially sighted runner. Bowling is underarm, unlike in the traditional game.

Four other nations – Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the US — are competing in the tournament which began in India and moved to Sri Lanka for the final stages. The final is scheduled for next Sunday in Colombo.

READ: Dominant Pakistan sweep Bangladesh in Hockey series

DHAKA: Dominant Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh 10-3 in the final game of the three-match qualifier series here at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan had already secured a spot in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Belgium after registering two dominant wins in their play-off series against Bangladesh.

The Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 will take place from February 28 to March 8, 2026.

The Green Shirts remained dominant throughout the series, sweeping the hosts with comprehensive wins in all three matches.

In the final game, Pakistan put in a commendable performance, netting five goals in the first half, whereas Bangladesh managed to score only one.

The dominance continued till the end as the visitors doubled the goals and eventually outplayed them to seal an emphatic win.

Sufyan Khan was named the Top Scorer of the Tournament, while Ammad Butt was given the Best Player of the Tournament award due to his attacking game during the three-match series.

Earlier, Pakistan secured victories in the opening two games of the series with margins of 8-2 and 8-0 respectively.

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It is noteworthy to mention that the series was initiated by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) after Pakistan was unable to travel to India for the Asia Cup in August and September due to strained political relations between the two neighboring countries.

Pakistan hockey team’s next assignment will be its maiden appearance in the FIH Pro League. The tournament is scheduled to kick off next month in Argentina.

The seventh edition of the competition will feature nine teams: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, and Pakistan, with Ireland relegated after finishing last in the previous season.

The highlight of the season will undoubtedly be the clash between Pakistan and arch-rivals India, set to take place in London on June 23 and 26, 2026.

Pakistan will begin their campaign in Rosario, Argentina, where they face the Netherlands on December 10, followed by hosts Argentina on December 12. The Green Shirts will play 16 matches in total across four international legs.

Their second assignment takes them to Hobart, Australia, in February, where they go head-to-head with the hosts and Germany.

In June, Pakistan will feature in the European leg of the tournament with fixtures against Belgium and Spain in Wavre, before moving to London for the final round against England and India.

READ: Harmer stars as South Africa stun India in low-scoring Test

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens have won the toss and decided to bowl first against India A in the sixth fixture of the Asia Cup Rising Stars here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Both sides have showcased dominant performances in their opening games, with India A demolishing UAE by a hefty margin of 149 runs, whereas Pakistan Shaheens outplayed Oman by 40 runs.

Playing XIs

India A: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Jitesh Sharma (capt, wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma

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Pakistan Shaheen: Yasir Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghori, Muhammad Khan, Chadhry Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufyan Muqeem, Ubaid Shah, Ahmad Latif

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held on 21 November. The final of the tournament will take place on Sunday, 23 November.

All matches will be staged at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

READ: Breaking the Century Drought: How Babar Azam Mirrors Virat Kohli