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RAWALPINDI: Mohammad Wasim Junior’s three-wicket haul and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-century powered Pakistan to a clean sweep against Sri Lanka here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan chased down a partly 212-run target in 44.4 overs with eight wickets in hand.

With this victory, Pakistan clinched the three-match series 3-0.

The home side were jolted early in the chase in the shape of Haseebullah Khan’s wicket, who was only playing in his second ODI, departed for a duck after playing 12 balls.

After an early blow, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam forged a 74-run partnership that made light work of the chase. The scorecard read 82 in 15.2 overs when Maheesh Theekshana removed Zaman.

The soutpaw made 55 from just 45 deliveries peppered with eight fours. After his wicket, the visitors kept it tight, which resulted in Babar’s dismissal, bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay.

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The right-hander struck four boundaries on his way to 34 from 52 balls. It was the cherry on top for Sri Lanka as in-form Salman Ali Agha (6) was also sent back in quick succession.

As a result, the Green Shirts were reduced to 115-4 in 24.3 overs before an unbeaten century stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat took them home.

Rizwan top-scored with 61* from 92 balls, while Hussain Talat hit a single boundary in his 57-ball 42.

For Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Vandersay remained the long bright star, who picked up a three-wicket haul in his quota of 10 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Wasim picked up three wickets to rattle Sri Lanka’s batting line-up for a below-par score.

Put into bat first, the Islanders could not get going and were eventually bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs.

Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara provided a rapid start, adding 55 for the opening wicket in only 8.1 overs.

Haris Rauf broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Pathum Nissanka, who once again got a start but could not convert it. The right-hander hit four boundaries in his 24 from 27 before getting cleaned up.

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Mishara followed him as he was caught behind on Wasim’s bowling, after making 29 from 30 with the help of five fours.

After openers were sent back, the stand-in skipper, Kusal Mendis, and Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to stabilize the innings with a 43-run partnership.

However, it was Wasim again who broke the promising stand and derailed the Islanders’ innings. Mendis was bowled with a beauty after scoring 34 from 54 balls.

The wicket sparked a collapse with the visitors losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out. Sadeera Samarawickrama remained the top-scorer with 48 from 65 deliveries. The right-handed batter managed to hit two boundaries in his knock.

For Pakistan, it was an all-round bowling effort as Mohammad Wasim led the wicket charts with three wickets. Faisal Akram and Haris Rauf chipped in with two wickets apiece while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf took one each.

READ: PCB assigns key role to Sarfaraz Ahmed

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been handed a key role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), sources said on Sunday.

According to sources, the wicket-keeper has been assigned to oversee matters regarding the Pakistan Shaheens and the Pakistan Under-19 teams.

The role will involve looking after squads, including coordination with coaches, squad management, and arrangements for domestic and international tours. Additionally, Sarfaraz could also travel with the teams on their tours.

It is pertinent to note that this will be the second time the 38-year-old has been assigned a role in the PCB. Previously, he had served as the mentor of the Dolphins team in the Champions Cup, which was held last year.

Earlier, Sarfaraz Ahmed, as Team Director of Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 10, opened up on the challenges of transitioning to the coaching role.

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The wicket-keeping batter led the side for eight years and in a record 80 matches since the inception of the PSL in 2016, and played as a player in the previous edition of the league.

In an interview with PCB Digital, Sarfaraz Ahmed said: “It is an exciting role for me, and I am trying to learn as I have previously worked as a mentor in the two Champions Cup events for team Dolphins”.

Sarfaraz Ahmed added, “It’s not easy for a player to transition into a coaching role, especially after being involved as a player on the field, but over time you need to evolve your skillset and adapt to new responsibilities. I have been with Quetta since the start of the HBL PSL.”

Recalling Quetta Gladiators’ triumph in the 2019 edition, the former Pakistan captain called it a memorable moment after reaching finals and playoffs for three years.

For the unversed, Sarfaraz is a vastly experienced player, having represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20Is.

He also brought several accolades to Pakistan, as he led the national team to victories in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

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

Spinner Simon Harmer claimed a match haul of eight wickets to lead South Africa to a thrilling 30-run win over India inside three days of a low-scoring opening Test on Sunday.

India, without captain and leading batter Shubman Gill, who was ruled out because of a neck injury he suffered on Saturday, faltered in their chase of 124 to be bowled out for 93 in Kolkata.

Harmer, who had figures of 4-30 in the first Indian innings, struck key blows in the second session, including getting Rishabh Pant caught and bowled for two to dent the opposition chase.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj struck twice in two balls to pack off India and trigger wild celebrations in the South African camp, with the reigning world Test champions taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma hit a defiant 55 not out to lift his team’s second innings total to 153 after they slipped to 91-7 on day two.

“Very exciting, you want to be a part of those types of games and obviously be on the right side of the result,” Bavuma said.

“I think we tried to hold our ground as much as we could. We knew it was going to be tough with the bat; it was tough for us, but we needed to exploit what was there.”

South Africa, who beat Australia in the World Test Championship final in June at Lord’s, have lived up to their winners’ tag with a recent 1-1 draw in Pakistan and now beating India at their own game of spin.

Washington Sundar attempted to anchor India’s chase but fell to Aiden Markram’s off-spin for 31.

Axar Patel gave the crowd some cheer with his two sixes off Maharaj before the bowler had his revenge to send the batter caught out for 26 off 17 balls.

Left-arm quick Marco Jansen ripped out the Indian openers before lunch with the hosts effectively 10-3 in the absence of Gill, who is in hospital and “under observation”, at the break, and Harmer soon took charge and returned figures of 4-21.

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Wickets fell in clusters as Harmer, who was named player of the match, kept up the charge to send back Dhruv Jurel, Pan,t and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession.

“A game like this, you can’t dwell into it too much,” said vice-captain Pant, who took charge of the team after Gill was forced out.

“We should’ve been able to chase this score. The pressure built on us in the second innings, and we weren’t able to capitalise.”

Earlier, Bavuma played a defiant knock to keep South Africa in the hunt after they resumed on 93-7 on a tough pitch with inconsistent bounce.

He started the day on 29 and played with grit to complete the first half-century of a low-scoring contest.

Bavuma’s 44-run eighth-wicket stand with overnight partner Corbin Bosch frustrated the Indian bowlers until pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah broke through.

Bumrah bowled Bosch for 25 before Bavuma reached his fifty in 122 balls, raising his bat to an applauding dressing room.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj shattered Harmer’s stumps for seven and removed last man Maharaj for a duck in the space of four balls as Bavuma ran out of partners.

South Africa fought back on day two after being all out for 159 on Friday, after winning the toss and electing to bat.

They dismissed India for 189 on Saturday to keep the deficit to 30 before again faltering in their batting.

The second Test starts Saturday in Guwahati.

READ: Jannik Sinner beats Alex de Minaur to reach ATP Finals title match

Jannik Sinner continued his mastery over Alex de Minaur on Saturday with a straight-sets win to reach the ATP Finals championship match for the third year in a row.

Sinner broke late in the first set and then pulled away from De Minaur to complete a 7-5, 6-2 win, his 13th in as many meetings with the Australian.

The Italian world number two has yet to drop a service game en route to the final but will likely have a tougher test in the final against top seed Carlos Alcaraz, who is the favourite to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in Saturday’s other semi-final.

“Honestly, every matchup (with Alcaraz) is different. We saw it in Rome and Paris, even if it’s the same surface (clay), it can change,” said Sinner, who lost both of those finals before beating his Spanish rival to win Wimbledon.

“Another final, has been an amazing year for me. I’m looking forward for tomorrow… Also, to see for me where my level really is, but at the same time it’s great before the off-season to have this matchup.

“He still has a match to go against Felix… He loves to play indoors, as we know. Let’s see who is going to win. Anyway, I’m happy to be in the final. Then we see.”

Sinner has won his last 18 sets played in Turin, where he beat Taylor Fritz in last year’s final. The four-time Grand Slam champion is on a 30-match winning streak on indoor hard courts.

The 24-year-old Sinner hasn’t dropped a set at the ATP Finals since losing the 2023 final to Novak Djokovic, while De Minaur ends his year with a more upbeat mood than the one he had after losing to Lorenzo Musetti in the group stage.

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De Minaur admitted that he had been in a “dark place” after that loss, which almost cost him a place in the last four, before he beat Taylor Fritz to set up Saturday’s clash with Sinner.

“I had a little shift in perspective. Of course, like, sitting here right now, I feel like I should have finished my Turin campaign having won two matches instead of one,” De Minaur told reporters.

“But you can’t really change the past. You’ve just got to do your best to learn from it, get back up, and keep on heading forward, right? That’s ultimately the goal now. Obviously, I’m in a much better place.”

De Minaur fought off two break points in the opening game of the semi-final but then failed to convert any of the three he carved out in Sinner’s first service game.

The Australian resisted again when Sinner threatened to break in the seventh and ninth games, but the second seed eventually struck the key blow at 5-5 and snatched the first set.

Sinner surged 4-0 ahead in the second set before wrapping up his ninth straight win at the tournament, becoming the youngest player since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 to reach three finals at the season-ending event.

If Sinner faces Alcaraz in the final, it will be their sixth meeting of the season. Alcaraz has won four of the five previous matches, triumphing in the French Open and US Open finals.

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

Comparisons between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli have become a global cricket pastime. Some find them premature, while others find them inevitable; however, cricket has a way of creating parallels that write their own narrative.

Babar’s century on 14 November, his first international hundred in 807 days, sits perfectly alongside Kohli’s famous dry spell, because both men ended their droughts after exactly 83 innings.

It is a coincidence too striking to ignore, especially when both are seen as modern batting figureheads for their nations.

Babar’s unbeaten 102 off 119 balls against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi was more than a match-winning knock; it was a release, a breaking-the-shackles moment.

His previous international hundred came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup, and although he accumulated runs throughout the drought, that final step into three figures kept slipping away.

Interestingly, Virat Kohli lived his own version of this struggle. After scoring 136 against Bangladesh in November 2019, he waited 1,021 days for his next century.

That next century finally arrived in September 2022 when he struck an unbeaten 122 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.

What the 83 Innings Reveal?

Virat Kohli entered his drought already carrying the legacy of 70 international centuries in 395 matches.

Even during his leanest stretch, he managed to score 2,708 runs at an average of 36.10 and a strike rate of 73.24, a reminder that his slump was more about conversion than contribution.

He struck 26 fifties, registered nine ducks, and still produced a boundary count of 251 fours and 48 sixes.

Babar’s path told a slightly different story. Before the start of his drought, he had 31 centuries across 257 international matches. While Kohli was already onto greatness before his drought, Babar was still on his way to it.

Across his 83-innings wait, Babar Azam amassed 2,423 runs at an average of 31.06 and a strike rate of 78.13, with 20 fifties and five ducks, supported by 266 fours and 32 sixes.

A Format-by-Format Story

The Test Chapter

Test cricket was unkind to both. Babar played 12 Tests and scored 594 runs at 24.75, managing four half-centuries but constantly wrestling with form and long spells of scratchy batting.

His highest score during the drought across all formats was his 81-run Test knock against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year.

Kohli’s Test stint during his drought was slightly more productive, with 872 runs at 27.25 across 18 matches. Even then, he too lived in the same zone as Babar.

Both men saw their Test aura dim, and in many ways, their struggles in whites amplified the psychological weight of the drought.

ODIs: The Familiar Strength

In ODIs, the format where both have historically excelled, Kohli again maintained a narrow edge.

Babar scored 1,012 runs at 33.73 in 33 innings, with nine fifties, but rarely controlled games the way he once did. His strike rate of 77.99 remained steady, yet something always felt half-finished.

Kohli, meanwhile, used ODIs as his survival ground. In 23 innings, he made 824 runs at 35.82, striking at 87.94, and producing ten fifty-plus scores.

T20Is: The Real Separation

The clearest difference came in the shortest format. Babar Azam scored 817 runs at 34.04 with a strike rate of 131.56, which on paper looks solid.

But he struggled with tempo, intent, and the new demands of the format, resulting in him getting dropped from the T20I side before making his comeback against South Africa last month.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, continued to be India’s dependable chaser. His 1,012 runs at 50.60 and strike rate of 140.94 told the story of a player who remained a match-winner even when hundreds refused to arrive.

His unbeaten 94 against West Indies in Hyderabad was his best knock across all formats during the drought.

Home vs Away

Virat Kohli was significantly stronger at home during his drought, scoring 1,255 runs at 43.27 in 35 innings, with 13 fifty-plus scores.

Away from home, his average dipped sharply to 30.10 across 39 innings, showing signs of struggle in more demanding environments. Neutral venues offered a slightly better balance at 39.85 in nine innings.

Babar Azam’s graph during the drought is the exact opposite. He struggled at home, averaging just 24.00 in 30 innings, a number that feels alien to his usual elegance.

But the moment he travelled, he rediscovered himself. Away from home, he averaged 35.42, delivering 13 fifties and looking far more assured. Even at neutral venues, he held a strong 34.63 across 13 innings.

Two Careers at Different Crossroads

Once Virat Kohli broke the drought, his resurgence was emphatic. He went on to score 11 more centuries in the next two years, leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, and retired from Tests and T20Is with one of cricket’s most complete careers.

Whether he adds to his ODI tally at 37 remains uncertain, but his legacy is sealed.

Babar’s story is still being written. At 31, he is entering the age where batters often flourish.

With the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, he has time, talent, and a fresh breath of confidence. This century may not just be an end to a drought; it may very well be the start of his second act.

READ: Babar Azam opens up after ending century drought

Pace spearhead Mark Wood was on Saturday cleared of any hamstring injury after a precautionary scan, a huge relief for England, just days away from the first Ashes Test against Australia.

The 35-year-old complained of left hamstring stiffness on Friday during the tourists’ only warm-up game before the opening Test in Perth on November 21.

It was his first match in almost nine months following knee surgery, with the veteran getting through eight overs before leaving the field.

“Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,” the England Cricket Board said.

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“Wood will continue to train as planned in the build-up to the first Test in Perth.”

He is not expected to feature on the third and final day of England’s game against the second-tier England Lions XI in Perth on Saturday.

Barring further setbacks, Wood is expected to lead the attack in the first Test, potentially alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.

England, who last lifted the Ashes urn at home in 2015, have lost 13 of their last 15 Tests in Australia. The other two were drawn.

READ: Australia pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood ruled out of first Ashes Test

Australia was dealt a huge blow Saturday with pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England with a hamstring strain, joining Pat Cummins on the sidelines.

Hazlewood tweaked his hamstring during New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria during the week.

He was initially given the all-clear after a scan, but repeat imaging confirmed the strain.

“Initial scans on Wednesday were clear of muscle strain; however, follow-up imaging today has confirmed the injury,” Cricket Australia said.

“As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match.”

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It is a massive setback for the hosts just days out from the opening Test in Perth on November 21, with fellow quick Cummins also missing the match.

Australian captain Cummins has not played since picking up a lower back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago.

He is targeting a return for the second Test in Brisbane in December.

Reserve fast bowler Sean Abbott is also an injury casualty, with Michael Neser, who has played two Tests, called up on Saturday as cover.

With Hazlewood and Cummins both absent, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland will lead the attack against England, with Brendan Doggett looking likely to make his debut.

READ: Babar Azam opens up after ending century drought

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam shared his thoughts after scoring a long-awaited 32nd international century here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium against Sri Lanka.

Babar scored a match-winning 102* from 119 balls, which included eight boundaries.

Chasing 289, Pakistan made light work of the target, reaching 291/2 with 10 balls to spare, thanks to commanding contributions from the top order led by their former captain.

He walked in at No.3 and stitched a century partnership with Fakhar, maintaining Pakistan’s dominance through the middle overs.

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The right-hander scored an unbeaten 102 off 119 deliveries as Pakistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Rawalpindi.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, the 31-year-old emphasized the importance of hard work and self-belief.

“I was waiting for it as well,” said a visibly relieved Babar at the post-match conversation. “I’ve kept believing in hard work and myself during this period.”

It was Babar’s first century in 84 innings combined in international cricket. He last scored an international century against Nepal during the ACC Asia Cup, which was played in ODI format, back in August 2023.

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“I was getting the start and also scoring runs; however, I was not able to meet the team’s demands at that moment. I wasn’t trying to spend some time in the middle to get my confidence back,” he continued.

He shared his joy in surpassing Saeed Anwar’s record of becoming the quickest Pakistan batter to score 20 centuries in the format.

“It was an honor for me to achieve that, I will try to do better in the coming games,” Babar concluded.

READ: Ton-up Babar Azam levels Saeed Anwar’s record

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ace batter equaled former opener Saeed Anwar’s record with a drought-breaking century against Sri Lanka in the second ODI here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The right-hander notched up his long-awaited 32nd international century and 20th ODI ton, hence equalling Anwar’s record for the most ODI hundreds by a Pakistani batter.

The former World number one ODI batter brought up the much-anticipated century off 115 balls when he pulled Pramod Madushan for a single.

Babar scored 20 half-centuries across formats during the drought, but was unable to breach the 100-run barrier.

Most ODI Centuries for Pakistan

Babar Azam: 20 centuries in 136 ODI innings

Saeed Anwar: 20 centuries in 244 ODI innings

Mohammad Yousuf: 15 centuries in 267 ODI innings

Fakhar Zaman: 11 centuries in 90 ODI innings

For the unversed, Babar Azam’s last international century came against Nepal during the ACC Asia Cup, which was played in ODI format, back in August 2023.

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He scored an impressive 151 runs off just 131 balls, featuring 18 boundaries, including four soaring sixes.

Since that knock, however, Babar has experienced a notable dip in form. Over the past 15 months, he has struggled to reach the three-figure mark across all three formats of the game.

In the first ODI of the ongoing home series against Sri Lanka earlier this week, Babar showed glimpses of brilliance until Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned him up with a googly.

However, his 84th international innings since his last international century turned out to be a lucky charm for him as he finally reached the milestone after a wait of 807 days.

READ: Babar Azam ends century drought in second Sri Lanka ODI

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam finally ended his century drought in international cricket during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Friday.

The right-hander notched up his long-awaited 32nd international century. Babar reached the three-figure mark on the first ball of the 47th over with a little pull towards midwicket.

Chasing 289, Pakistan made light work of the target, reaching 291/2 with 10 balls to spare, thanks to commanding contributions from the top order led by their former captain.

Babar scored an unbeaten 102 off 119 deliveries as Pakistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Rawalpindi.

He walked in at No.3 and stitched a century partnership with Fakhar, maintaining Pakistan’s dominance through the middle overs.

Catch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka news updates here!

Fakhar fell for a solid 78 off 93 (8 fours, 1 six), but Pakistan’s chase never wavered as Babar took complete control of proceedings.

The right-hander reached his long-awaited international hundred — his first in nearly two years — and stayed unbeaten on a masterful 102 off 119 balls, decorated with eight boundaries.

Babar finished the match in style, stroking the winning runs to seal both the victory and the series.

For the unversed, Babar last scored an international century against Nepal during the ACC Asia Cup, which was played in ODI format, back in August 2023.

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He scored an impressive 151 runs off just 131 balls, featuring 18 boundaries, including four soaring sixes.

Since that knock, however, Babar has experienced a notable dip in form. Over the past 15 months, he has struggled to reach the three-figure mark across all three formats of the game.

Playing XIs

READ: Shaheen Afridi breaks silence on replacing Mohammad Rizwan as captain