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ISLAMABAD: The trophy for the three-match One Day International (ODI) series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was unveiled here at the Pakistan Monument on Monday.

The ceremony took place at the Pakistan Monument, located in the federal capital, with pictures shared on the Pakistan Cricket Team’s social media handles, featuring Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka and Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi posing with the trophy.

“Pakistan Monument, Islamabad. KFC Presents Bank Alfalah Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Series 2025 trophy unveiled,” the caption of the post read.

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The opening match of the series will be played tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the action will move to Lahore for the second and third games, scheduled for November 13 and 15.

Charith Asalanka will lead the 16-member Sri Lankan side, which will play three ODIs and participate in the T20I tri-series involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

The tri-series will begin on November 17, with the final scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on November 29.

Sri Lanka Squad

Charith Asalanka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, and Eshan Malinga

Pakistan Squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan

11 November – First ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

13 November – Second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

15 November – Third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

• 17 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• 19 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• 22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 29 November –Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: Pakistan crush Kuwait to win Hong Kong Sixes 2025 title

The Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) on Monday revealed an 18-member squad for the IMC Over-40s T20 Cricket World Cup 2025, slated to commence in Karachi from November 21 to December 1.

Former Test cricketer and PVCA Chief Selector announced the squad with former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to lead the side, with Fawad Alam named as his vice-captain.

Overall, Razzaq represented Pakistan in 343 international matches and amassed over 7419 runs with 389 wickets to his name.

q, who represented Pakistan in 343 international matches, scoring over 7,400 runs and taking more than 380 wickets, will captain the team.

The squad features star players, including Shahid Afridi, who was widely regarded as one of the most explosive batters and impactful leg-spinners in world cricket.

Afridi’s presence promises to add immense star power and excitement to the veterans’ tournament. He has represented Pakistan in over 500 international matches, scoring 11,196 runs and taking 541 wickets across formats.

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Known for his charisma and aggressive playing style, Afridi’s inclusion is expected to draw significant attention from cricket fans around the world.

Former left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar will lead the spin attack with Tabish Khan and Sohail Khan boasting a fiery pace attack.

Javed Miandad will serve as the team mentor, forming a star-studded lineup that blends experience, flair, and competitive spirit. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s first hat-trick taker in international cricket, Jalaluddin, will take on the responsibilities of head coach.

For context, the IMC Over-40s T20 World Cup 2025 will feature 12 international teams, with 42 matches scheduled to be played across Karachi.

Pakistan’s Squad

Abdul Razzaq (c), Fawad Alam (VC), Shahid Afridi, Zulfiqar Babar, Humayun Farhat (wk), Sohail Khan, Tabish Khan, Sheharyar Ghani, Nadeem Javed, Irfan Mushtaq, Adnan Baig (wk), Mohammad Ali, Atif Maqbool, Javed Mansoor, Hassan Nasir, Mohammad Suleman, Tariq Mahmood, and Imran Ali.

Management:

Team Mentor: Javed Miandad

Head Coach: Jalaluddin

Team Manager: Azam Khan

READ: Saeed Ajmal slams team management over Babar Azam’s treatment

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has recently suggested the possibility of an early retirement, stirring uncertainty about his ambitious dream of playing until the 2028 Olympic Games.

He shared that the physical toll of elite tennis and recurring injuries may cut his career shorter than planned.

It’s worth noting that Djokovic, who captured an elusive Olympic gold in Paris last year, was forced to withdraw from the ATP Finals in Turin due to an ongoing injury, ending his season prematurely.

Djokovic confirmed his withdrawal through social media, expressing disappointment and gratitude to his supporters.

“I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best, but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury. I’m truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play – your support means so much,” he wrote.

The Serb, who recently claimed the ATP 250 title in Athens after defeating Lorenzo Musetti, reflected on his long-term ambitions but acknowledged the growing uncertainty surrounding his future.

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“Since I’ve achieved almost every goal in tennis, I mentioned the 2028 Olympics because I wanted to play for many more years,” Djokovic said.

“But I don’t know – there are some things beyond my control. I’m trying to stay as healthy as possible, both mentally and physically.”

With most major milestones already behind him, Novak Djokovic is reportedly considering a lighter playing schedule to manage his fitness and extend his time on tour.

Whether the 24-time Grand Slam champion will make it to the 2028 Olympics now remains an open question, one that even Djokovic himself seems unsure about.

READ: Shahzad throws shade at India after Pakistan’s Hong Kong Sixes triumph

MONG KOK: Pakistan’s Muhammad Shahzad took a dig at India captain Dinesh Karthik following the Green Shirts’ historic sixth Hong Kong Sixes title on Sunday.

Pakistan claimed the trophy with a 43-run victory over Kuwait, surpassing England and South Africa to become the most successful team in the tournament’s history.

Their campaign was nearly flawless, with their only loss coming in a rain-affected match against arch-rivals India, a game that also marked India’s only win in the event.

Pakistan bounced back strongly to defeat South Africa in the quarter-finals and Australia in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, India struggled against associate cricket nations such as Kuwait, Nepal, and the UAE, before losing their final game against Sri Lanka.

After lifting the trophy, Muhammad Shahzad, who played a key role throughout the tournament, celebrated by emulating Hardik Pandya’s iconic trophy pose.

He then took a swipe at Karthik, who had earlier tweeted, “Fun start to Hong Kong Sixes. Winning against Pak.” Shahzad, in return, posted: “Fun end to the Hong Kong Sixes. Business as usual.”

Fun end to the Hong Kong Sixes

Business as usual 😉#WeHaveARealTrophy #PAKISTANZINDABAD https://t.co/ftxVenMpDQ pic.twitter.com/IEdvzzVA46

— Muhammad Shahzad (@imshahzad27) November 9, 2025

READ: Shortlisted venues for ICC T20 World Cup 2026 revealed: report

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and Eden Gardens in Kolkata are among the top venues considered for hosting the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to reports from Indian media.

According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized a list of eight venues across India and Sri Lanka for the month-long global tournament, set to be co-hosted by the two neighbouring nations.

In India, matches are expected to be held across five major cities, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, while Sri Lanka will stage games in three venues, including two stadiums in Colombo and one in Kandy.

However, the host venue for the final remains undecided.

The ICC and its partners are said to be keeping that decision flexible, particularly in light of potential political sensitivities surrounding Pakistan’s participation.

If Pakistan qualifies for the final, the title clash is likely to be held in Colombo. On the other hand, if Pakistan fails to reach the final, Ahmedabad could be chosen to host the marquee encounter.

A similar contingency plan applies to the semifinals. Should Pakistan or Sri Lanka make it to the final four, their match will be played in Colombo.

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If neither side qualifies, both semifinals are expected to be staged in India, at Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

The 2026 edition will feature 20 teams, following the same structure as the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and the West Indies.

The teams will be split into four groups of five, with the top two from each progressing to the Super Eight stage.

The next round will see two groups of four, with the top two sides from each advancing to the knockout semifinals.

Apart from the 13 Test-playing nations, Canada, the Netherlands, UAE, Nepal, Oman, and Namibia have already booked their places, while Italy is set to make its maiden appearance at a senior ICC event.

India will enter the competition as the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the June 2024 final.

The ICC is expected to unveil the official schedule and group details in the coming days.

READ: Robert Lewandowski hat-trick helps Barcelona punish Celta Vigo

Robert Lewandowski hit a hat-trick to help Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday in La Liga and cut Real Madrid’s lead down to three points.

The veteran Polish striker’s treble helped Hansi Flick’s side capitalise on Los Blancos’ 0-0 draw earlier on at Rayo Vallecano.

Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barca in another gripping game produced by the champions’ attacking approach, and Marcus Rashford produced two more assists.

Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on for Barcelona for two yellow cards, but by then the champions had secured their victory to move second.

Lewandowski has had a stop-start start to the season due to injury, and Flick said his hat-trick would boost his confidence.

“After the injury, I can see a different Robert Lewandowski, he’s positive, he came back very early,” Flick told reporters. “For him, for his confidence, it’s great to score three goals today.”

Lewandowski said the game was “one of the craziest” of the season, but was happy with the result.

“Vigo is always difficult for us, but now we have fewer points (between us) and Real Madrid,” Lewandowski told Movistar.

Flick insisted Barcelona would not change their style, despite some recent struggles, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, which led to a wild first half.

The champions nosed ahead through a Lewandowski penalty on 10 minutes after a handball, but Celta equalised a minute later.

Rashford missed a one-on-one chance and Celta broke away to score, with Sergio Carreira scampering behind Barca’s high defensive line.

Missing several injured stars, Flick had called on his team to show more fight in their absence, and they were more energised at Balaidos.

Looking back to his best, Lewandowski grabbed his second from an inviting Rashford cross to put Barca back in front on 37 minutes.

Celta quickly hit back again, this time through Borja Iglesias, who smashed home from the edge of the box.

However, Barcelona went in with the lead when Rashford’s deflected cross found teenage star Yamal, who beat Ionut Radu at his near post.

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Both teams were more stable in the second half, with Barca dominating and Celta forced to sit back.

Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with a header from Rashford’s corner after 73 minutes to wrap up the win.

It was the striker’s seventh league goal of the season in just four starts, showing his finishing quality has not diminished at the age of 37.

“We have two weeks to disconnect now but I hope when we come back we play a lot better, it’s the perfect moment to change things that aren’t working,” said Lewandowski.

“Flick asked if I needed a rest and I said no… I felt very good physically today and I’m very happy.”

Earlier, Real Madrid were left frustrated in their goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving champions Barcelona a chance to close in on them.

Rayo battled strongly in the derby clash, and although Real Madrid had the better chances, the hosts also had opportunities to win a scrappy game.

They managed to limit La Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe’s influence, while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham safely at arm’s length as well.

Madrid were hoping to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, but Alonso’s team dropped points for only the second time this season in the league.

“I want to keep growing, improving, with positive and constructive self-criticism — this is Real Madrid, we all know where we are and what we want,” coach Xabi Alonso told reporters.

“We’re in November, there’s a long way to go, we need to be demanding of ourselves (but) also be measured.”

Inigo Perez’s Rayo threatened first, when Andrei Ratiu fired straight at Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

After that, Madrid began to take control but the hosts, in mid-table, held firm.

Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made a fine instinctive save to push away a Vinicius effort and the hosts starved Madrid superstar Mbappe of the ball.

De Frutos and Alvaro Garcia came close for Rayo in the second half while Bellingham forced Batalla into another good save.

READ: Fourth New Zealand-West Indies T20I washed out

NELSON: The fourth Twenty20 international (T20I) between New Zealand and the West Indies was abandoned because of rain on Monday after less than seven overs of play at Saxton Oval.

New Zealand remain 2-1 up in the series with the fifth and final match to be played in Dunedin on Thursday.

The West Indies had reached 38-1 off 6.3 overs after being asked to bat when a second rain interruption brought the final halt to the contest at Nelson’s Saxton Oval.

Alick Athanaze, who made 21, was the only wicket to fall when he attempted to loft a James Neesham delivery over mid-on, only to miscue and be caught by Daryl Mitchell running back.

Fellow-opener Amir Jangoo was unbeaten on 12 and captain Shai Hope was not out on three.

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New Zealand lost the opening match of the series at Auckland’s Eden Park by seven runs, despite an impressive performance from skipper Mitchell Santner, who scored 55 runs off 28 balls.

However, the hosts made a strong comeback, winning the next two games in thrilling fashion.

In the second match, Mark Chapman played a remarkable innings, scoring 78 runs off just 28 balls to lead New Zealand to victory over the West Indies.

In the third game, Devon Conway was the standout performer for New Zealand.

READ: Match officials announced for Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODI series

RIYADH: Pakistan’s Qudrat Ullah and Fatima Zahra clinched bronze medals after bowing out in the semi-finals of the boxing at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games on Sunday.

Qudrat clinched a Bronze medal in men’s 55kg boxing after suffering defeat from Egypt’s Amir Mohamed Farag Ahmed Kelany in the semi-final, whereas 19-year-old Fatima was also defeated by an Egyptian opponent in the semi-final.

Qudrat reached the semi-final after defeating Sudan’s Mohamed Othman 10-0 in the quarter-final. While Fatima crushed Algeria’s Hamda Melissa 5-0 in the 60kg quarter-final.

Besides this, Pakistan’s Arusha Saeed also secured a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg Kurash event. The victory marked Pakistan’s first accolade in the event.

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Meanwhile, swimmer Jehanara Nabi clocked 30.7 seconds in her heat and advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 50m butterfly; however, she was unable to reach the final of the competition.

In the men’s 50m butterfly event, Ali Mohammad Mitha clocked a time of 26.31 seconds, finishing seventh in his heat, while Syed Mohammad Sodik Malik Hatim also came in seventh in his heat with a time of 26.13 seconds.

Leading the qualifiers was Turkey’s Berk Ozkul, who posted a time of 24.45 seconds.

The women’s table tennis team from Pakistan faced a defeat against Uganda, finishing with a score of 4-8 in Group C. The players in the match included Bisma Faryal, Hoor Fawad, and Kalsom Khan.

For the unversed, the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games are currently held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 7 to 21, 2025, featuring athletes from across the Muslim world competing in a range of sports.

The games also marked a return to Saudi Arabia, which hosted the first edition in 2005 across the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Taif.

READ: Pakistani cueists shine at IBSF World Snooker Championship

DOHA: Pakistan cueists displayed impressive performances in the second stage of the IBSF World Snooker Championship here at the Ezdan Palace Hotel on Sunday.

Seasoned cueist Asjad Iqbal delivered a commanding performance, defeating Cao Zeyi of China 4-1 (4-57, 57-51, 65-5, 70-21, 68-35).

Meanwhile, the three-time World Champion Muhammad Asif secured a decisive win against Bahrain’s Habib Subah 4-2 (70(50)-28, 50-77, 56(56)-74, 65(50)-21, 69-29, 64-51(50).

In another game, Muhammad Hasnain (Pak) displayed commendable performance, outplaying Hesham Shawky of Egypt 4-1 (1-79, 83-24, 64-46, 75(50)-42, 53-29).

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On the contrary, Shahid Aftab was on the losing side, suffering a defeat against Poland’s Michał Szubarczyk 4-2 (68-21, 35-73(50), 46-69, 58-23, 86-21, 62-42).

For context, the tournament, which is underway from November 3 to 13, is currently played in two stages.

According to the rules mentioned on the IBSF official site, two qualifying events will be held, each allowing a maximum of 64 players. The events will be conducted on a knock-out basis, completed over two days each, with matches to be played to a best-of-7 frames format.

The second stage involves 48 players, of which 32 players are pre-qualified. The Last-16 players in Stage 2 will automatically qualify for Stage 2 of the following year’s championship.

READ: Match officials announced for Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODI series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced the match officials for the upcoming three-match One-Day International (ODI) series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Ali Naqvi from Pakistan will serve as the match referee. Meanwhile, International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires member, and England’s Alexander Wharf, will be officiating as an on-field umpire in the ODI series opener.

He will share the duties alongside Asif Yaqoob (ICC Emerging Panel of Umpires). Bangladesh’s Saikat Sharfuddoula, also part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will be the third umpire. Rashid Riaz will serve as the fourth umpire.

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“For the second ODI on 13 November, Saikat Sharfuddoula will be joined by Faisal Afridi (ICC International Panel of Umpires) as on-field umpires. Alexander Wharf will act as the third umpire, while Asif Yaqoob will perform the duties of the fourth umpire,” the board said in a statement.

“The third ODI on 15 November will see Alexander Wharf and Rashid Riaz officiating as on-field umpires, with Saikat Sharfuddoula and Faisal Afridi serving as third and fourth umpires, respectively,” it added.

For context, the first game of the three-match ODI series will take place on 11 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, followed by the next two matches on 11 and 15 November at the same venue.

Updated 15-member T20I squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq

Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan

11 November – First ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

13 November – Second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

15 November – Third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

READ: Jamieson holds nerves in final over to seal victory for New Zealand