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The five-team National Women’s One-Day Cup is set to commence on Friday, 14 November in Faisalabad.

The tournament will be played in a double-league format, with each team facing each other twice, culminating in the top two teams squaring off in the final.

The 21-match event will be live-streamed, with Stars entering the field as the defending champions, having defeated Conquerors by five wickets in the final of the previous season’s One-Day Tournament.

The other three teams are Challengers, Invincibles, and Strikers.

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The 20-member squads of the teams will train at the Iqbal Stadium and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) High Performance Center Ground before being trimmed to 15 members.

A total of PKR 3.55 million has been announced, with the winner and runner-up pocketing PKR 1.5 million and PKR 1 million, respectively. The Player of the match in each game will get PKR 25,000, while the player of the tournament will take away PKR 200,000.

All matches will be played at the Iqbal Stadium and PCB High-Performance Centre Ground, except for one fixture between Challengers and Strikers on 22 November, which will be held at the Jawad Club Cricket Ground.

Squads:

Conquerors: Fatima Sana (captain), Aleena Masood, Amber Kainat, Aqsa Bibi, Ayesha Bilal, Eisha Naeem, Esha Rahupoto, Farzana Farooq (wicketkeeper), Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Lubna Behram, Maheen Irfan, Maham Anees, Muqadas Bukhari, Sabiha Noor, Saima Malik, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper), Umm-e-Hani, and Zunash Abdul Sattar.

Strikers: Nashra Sundhu (captain), Aliya Riaz, Aliza Sabir, Amna Bibi, Areesha Noor, Ghulam Fatima, Humna Bilal, Javeria Siddique, Laiba Fatima, Laiba Nasir, Mahnoor Aftab, Najiha Alvi (wicketkeeper), Noreen Yaqoob, Rabia Rani, Rehmat Noreen, Saiqa Riaz, Samina Aftab, Sania Rasheed (wicketkeeper), Shawaal Zulfiqar, and Zaib-un-Nisa Niaz.

Challengers: Rameen Shamim (captain), Aleena Shah, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Fatima Shahid, Haleema Dua, Huraina Sajjad, Jannat Rasheed, Maham Manzoor, Memoona Tipu, Neha Sharmin Nadeem, Quratulain, Ramama Nazir, Sadaf Shamas, Sana Talib, Tania Saeed, Tayyaba Imdad, Waheeda Akhtar, Wasifa Hussain (wicketkeeper), and Yusra Amir (wicketkeeper).

Invincibles: Muneeba Ali (captain, wicketkeeper), Ayesha Rehman, Bakhtawar Asad, Dua Majid, Fatima Khan, Hafsa Khalid, Khadija Chishti, Laiba Mansoor, Minhail Javaid, Momina Riasat, Nayab (wicketkeeper), Natalia Parvaiz, Neelam Mushtaq, Rida Aslam, Saba Sher, Samiya Afsar, Sana Urooj, Subica Shahzadi, Tasmia Rubab, and Tuba Hassan.

Stars: Omaima Sohail (captain), Anam Amin, Anosha Nasir, Arijah Haseeb, Diana Baig, Fatima Zahra, Gull Rukh, Haniah Ahmer, Kaynat Hafeez, Manahil Rafiq, Noor-ul-Iman, Seema Gul, Shabnam Hayat (wicketkeeper), Sidra Amin, Soha Fatima (wicketkeeper), Syeda Aroob Shah, Syeda Masooma, Syeda Taskyn Fatima, Warda Yousaf, and Yusra Ehtesham

READ: Pakistan sanctioned for slow over-rate in first Sri Lanka ODI

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Thursday, reprimanded the Pakistan men’s cricket team for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first ODI of their three-match series against Sri Lanka.

According to the ICC, match referee Ali Naqvi from the Elite Panel imposed the sanction after Pakistan fell four overs short of the required target, even after considering time allowances.

Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Green Shirts have been handed a 20 per cent fine of the match fees.

Pakistan’s captain, Shaheen Afridi, accepted the charges and penalties, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

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Nonetheless, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the opening ODI by a narrow margin of six runs. Salman Ali Agha and Haris Rauf starred for Green Shirts, with the former scoring an unbeaten century, whereas the latter picked up a four-wicket haul.

Chasing down a 300-run target, Sri Lanka managed to score 293 runs in their 50 overs, courtesy of Wanindu Hasaranga’s spirited half-century in the last phase of the innings.

It is pertinent to mention that the three-match ODI series faced uncertainty after several Sri Lankan players reportedly requested to return home on November 12, a day after the first ODI in Rawalpindi.

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In response, SLC assured its players that all safety measures were being implemented in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and local authorities.

Notably, the second ODI, originally scheduled for Thursday, 13 November, will now be played on Friday, 14 November, while the final fixture is set for Sunday, 16 November.

READ: Pakistan cricketers thank Sri Lanka for continuing white-ball tour

Pakistan cricketers have expressed their gratitude to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the touring team for continuing their tour despite several players raising safety concerns.

The series faced uncertainty after several Sri Lankan players reportedly requested to return home on November 12, a day after the first ODI in Rawalpindi.

In response, SLC assured its players that all safety measures were being implemented in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and local authorities.

The board instructed players and support staff to continue the tour, clarifying that anyone choosing to leave would be immediately replaced to ensure the series proceeded without disruption.

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Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar praised Sri Lanka’s decision, posting on X: “Thank you Sri Lanka Team for standing with cricket and defeating terrorism.”

Similarly, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said: “After a turbulent day, I am so pleased to know that the Sri Lanka tour is on!”

“A collective effort from all of us will help address such manic behaviour and brutality! A big thank you to the Sri Lankan Board, the players, and our Cricket Board for their efforts to ensure that cricket emerges as the true winner!”

Current Pakistan stars also voiced their appreciation.

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Salman Ali Agha thanked the Sri Lankan board and players for supporting Pakistan during a difficult time, urging fans to fill the stadium for the remaining ODIs.

Meanwhile, Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi requested fans to attend the November 14 and 16 fixtures in large numbers, while Haris Rauf emphasized that Sri Lanka’s decision was a win for cricket itself.

Notably, the second ODI, originally scheduled for Thursday, 13 November, will now be played on Friday, 14 November, while the final fixture is set for Sunday, 16 November.

READ: Portugal’s Ronaldo expects Ireland fans’ boos ahead of World Cup Qualifier

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he wants Ireland fans to boo him in Thursday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Dublin.

Portugal will reach the 2026 World Cup finals with a victory, and Ronaldo said if the crowd focused on him, it could take pressure off his teammates.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is aiming to play at a sixth World Cup next summer, and Portugal lead qualifying Group F by five points with two matches remaining.

“The stadium will boo me, I’m used to it, I certainly hope they do, maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” Ronaldo told a news conference on Wednesday.

Ronaldo said he expected it would be a “difficult” match, with Ireland sitting back and denying him and his teammates space.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward was also asked about the possibility of scoring his 1000th career goal in the World Cup final.

“You’ve been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect,” laughed Ronaldo, 40.

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“Getting back to reality, all this data makes me happy. A national team never depends on one player, but I like being able to make a difference with goals.

“It’s always good to score goals, that’s my position. I want to play in this next World Cup; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here, but let’s take it step by step.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, has scored 953 goals in his career to date.

The striker is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals and said Tuesday he believes the 2026 World Cup will be his last and he expects to retire from football within a couple of years.

However, on Wednesday, Ronaldo said he preferred to focus on the team’s goal of qualifying rather than discuss his future in the game.

“There’s no point in being repetitive and losing focus,” he added. “Maybe later on I’ll give more interviews and speak more clearly about what I think for the future, but Portugal has another opportunity to be in another final.”

READ: England pacer faces injury scare ahead of first Ashes Test

PERTH: England have been dealt a potential blow ahead of the first Test of the Ashes 2025, with fast bowler Mark Wood experiencing stiffness in his left hamstring during their only warm-up match in Perth.

Wood, returning to competitive action for the first time in nine months following left knee surgery, bowled two four-over spells against the Australia A Lions at Lilac Hill.

He was forced off the field midway through the second session after completing his second spell, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of the series opener at Optus Stadium on November 21.

“The plan for Mark Wood was for him to bowl eight overs today,” the ECB said in a statement.

“He has some stiffness in his hamstring, which kept him off the field for part of the second session of day one.

“He will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow. He is expected to bowl again in two days’ time. It is unlikely he will return to the field today.”

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Despite the setback, Wood showed glimpses of his pace and bounce on a relatively slow pitch, although conditions in the warm-up clash were expected to differ significantly from the faster, bouncier surfaces likely for the first Test.

England fielded an all-pace attack against the Lions, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir not featuring in the main XI.

Captain Ben Stokes led the bowling effort, claiming four of the five wickets to fall before tea, marking his first competitive outing since late July.

The news comes amid a flurry of injury updates in the Australian camp. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was cleared of a hamstring issue, while Sean Abbott was withdrawn after scans revealed a moderate strain in his left hamstring.

The upcoming Ashes series, set to begin in Perth, sees Australia historically dominant, having won 140 of 340 Tests against England, who have claimed 108 victories.

In terms of series wins, Australia lead 34 to 32, adding extra weight to England’s injury concerns as they prepare to challenge the hosts on home soil.

READ: Jannik Sinner cruises past Alexander Zverev to reach last four of ATP Finals

Jannik Sinner reached the last four of the ATP Finals on Wednesday after beating Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-3 to qualify from the Bjorn Borg group with a match to spare.

World number one Sinner is bidding to retain his title at the prestigious end-of-season tournament, and he cruised into the semi-finals in front of a delighted crowd in Turin.

The 24-year-old was not at his best and struggled with a hand problem at the start of the match, but still had more than enough to see off Zverev for the fifth straight time.

Zverev hasn’t beaten Sinner since the 2023 US Open, being destroyed by the Italian in the semi-finals of the recent Paris Masters, and again, the German couldn’t handle the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Sinner was brutal on his serve, rattling in 12 aces, and once he took the first set with his third break point of game 10, he never looked back.

“If we watch the match today, there were one or two points, that’s why I won the first set,” Sinner told reporters.

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“A couple of points, that’s why I won the second set. If those points go the other way, maybe it’s the same score in the opposite way. You never know.”

Zverev needed to win in straight sets to book his place in the semis, but will now have to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime, a 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 winner over Ben Shelton, in his final group match on Friday in order to progress.

But he cut an irritated figure on court, frustrated by his inability to capitalise on any of his seven break points, a series of unforced forehand errors and at one point by a flashing advertising sign.

“Listen, I hope to see him again, it’s as simple as that, this week,” Zverev said.

“He’s not unplayable. I had many opportunities. He had one, and he used the chance. This is why he’s number one in the world, you know? He uses the chances that he gets.”

Sinner, meanwhile, will take on Shelton, aiming to top the group and set up a clash with whoever finishes second in the Jimmy Connors Group, which is currently led by his great rival Carlos Alcaraz.

READ: Jacob Duffy stars as New Zealand crush West Indies to seal T20I series

DUNEDIN: Jacob Duffy took 4-35 as New Zealand romped to a crushing eight-wicket win in the fifth T20 international (T20I) against the West Indies on Thursday to seal a 3-1 series victory at University Oval on Thursday.

Seamer Duffy removed three batters with the new ball as the West Indies collapsed to 21-4 before recovering from 48-5 to be all out for 140 in 18.4 overs.

New Zealand made short work of the chase, coasting to 141-2 from 15.4 overs, with opener Devon Conway top scoring with 47 not out, including four fours and a six.

After some close, exciting earlier matches, the West Indies’ aggressive batting in an attempt to level the series proved too haphazard in seamer-friendly conditions.

Roston Chase top-scored with 38 while Romario Shepherd struck a lively 36 off 22 balls in the lower order.

Duffy was named player of the series after taking 10 wickets at an average of 12.10.

“We just wanted to be clinical, finish off the series and take it home,” said the 31-year-old, who became the first New Zealander to take five four-wicket hauls in T20 internationals.

“We could see there was going to be a little bit in the pitch for us, and we did well to restrict a good West Indies team to 140.”

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New Zealand got off to a flying start, racing to 69 off 7.1 overs before Tim Robinson departed for a hard-hit 45, having smacked five fours and three sixes.

The result was almost assured before Rachin Ravindra was next out for 21 to leave New Zealand 106-2 after 11.5 overs, needing just 35 for victory.

Mark Chapman joined Conway and hit two sixes to be unbeaten on 21 at the end.

West Indies captain Shai Hope said his team struggled to adjust to the conditions, though he made no excuse for their aggressive approach at the top of the order.

“It was something we spoke about, wanting to put good bowling under pressure and not allowing them to settle too much,” Hope said.

“It didn’t work out for us this time around. There are pleasing signs, but certainly areas we can improve on.”

The teams will square up again for three one-day internationals starting in Christchurch on Sunday, followed by three Tests in December.

READ: Revised schedule for T20I tri-series in Pakistan revealed

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a revised schedule for the upcoming T20I tri-nation series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

The cricket board confirmed that the entire tournament will now take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

According to the updated itinerary, the tri-series will now begin on November 18, a day later than originally planned, with the final set for November 29.

The adjustment follows recent developments surrounding Sri Lanka’s ongoing white-ball tour of Pakistan, which has been clouded by uncertainty after several Sri Lankan players reportedly expressed concerns about security in the aftermath of a bomb blast in Islamabad.

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While speculation had swirled over whether Sri Lanka might curtail their stay, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) moved swiftly to allay fears, releasing a statement that assured, “comprehensive security arrangements” were being closely coordinated with the PCB and local authorities to ensure the safety of all players.

The PCB, meanwhile, has sought to minimize disruption by consolidating the tri-series entirely in Rawalpindi, a venue that has become a regular home for international cricket in recent months.

Revised T20I Tri-Series Schedule:

• November 18: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
• November 20: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
• November 22: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
• November 23: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
• November 25: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
• November 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
• November 29: Final

READ: India’s tennis star Sumit Nagal denied visa to China

NEW DELHI: India’s leading men’s tennis player Sumit Nagal has revealed that China denied him a visa just weeks before he was scheduled to compete in the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff in Sichuan, leaving his participation in jeopardy.

Nagal, ranked 275 in the world, took to the social media platform X on Monday to express his frustration over the development.

“I am supposed to fly to China soon to represent India at the Australian Open Playoff. But my visa was rejected without reason,” the 28-year-old wrote.

The week-long qualifying tournament, which begins on November 24, offers players from the Asia-Pacific region a chance to secure direct entry into the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.

Nagal, who reached a career-high ranking of 68 in 2024, has represented India at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

He previously featured in the main draw at Melbourne Park twice, losing in the first round earlier this year and in the second round the year before.

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The tournament organisers have stated that players “should contact the Chinese consulate for information regarding visa requirements” and may request an official letter of invitation if needed.

However, they have yet to respond to inquiries from AFP regarding Nagal’s situation.

AFP also reached out to Nagal’s agent and China’s foreign ministry for comment, but received no immediate response.

The incident comes at a time when India and China are still working to rebuild ties strained by years of geopolitical tension.

The two nations, which share a long and disputed Himalayan border, only recently resumed direct flights after a five-year suspension following the pandemic and the deadly 2020 border clash in Ladakh.

READ: Zimbabwe arrive in Pakistan for T20I tri-series

ISLAMABAD: Zimbabwe national cricket team has landed in Pakistan ahead of the T20I tri-nation series featuring the hosts and Sri Lanka, slated to take place in Rawalpindi from November 18 to 29.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Sikandar Raza-led side will take a day’s rest before beginning training on Friday as preparations ramp up for the week-long tournament.

The series, initially scheduled to begin on November 17, was pushed back by a day following uncertainty surrounding Sri Lanka’s ongoing white-ball tour of Pakistan.

The revision came after several Sri Lankan players expressed a desire to return home, citing security concerns in the aftermath of a recent bomb blast in Islamabad.

In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the situation, saying the team management had informed the board about the players’ concerns.

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The SLC, however, assured its squad that all safety measures were being taken in close coordination with the PCB and local authorities to ensure their well-being.

“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was informed by the team management that several members of the national team touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns,” the board said.

“Following this development, SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the PCB and the relevant authorities.”

The statement further clarified that any player opting to return home despite the board’s assurances would be replaced, with their decision to be formally reviewed.

Meanwhile, the ongoing Pakistan–Sri Lanka ODI series has also seen a minor adjustment, with the remaining two fixtures in Rawalpindi now set to take place on November 14 and 16, both postponed by a day each.

READ: PCB reschedules remaining Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI fixtures