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LAHORE: Right-handed batter Muhammad Irfan Khan has been appointed to captain the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament, as confirmed by the country’s cricket board on Friday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad that will compete in the revamped ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 14 to 23.

Pakistan Shaheens are placed in Group ‘B’ alongside Oman, India ‘A’ and UAE, while Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka ‘A’ are placed in Group ‘A’.

Pakistan will play their opening match of the T20 tournament against Oman on Friday, 14 November, before taking on India ‘A’ on Sunday, 16 November.

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Their final group match will be against the UAE on Tuesday, 18 November.

As per the tournament format, 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.

Before the team’s departure on 12 November, Pakistan Shaheens will undergo a training camp from 8 to 11 November at the Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.

Pakistan Shaheens squad

Muhammad Irfan Khan (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Faiq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Shahzad, Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Moqim, Ubaid Shah and Yasir Khan.

READ: Abbas Afridi’s blitz propels Pakistan to victory over Kuwait in Hong Kong Sixes

Pakistan got off to a flying start in the Hong Kong Sixes as captain Abbas Afridi led from the front with a blistering half-century to seal a thrilling win over Kuwait at the Mission Road Ground on Friday.

Chasing a daunting 124 in six overs, Pakistan turned the contest into a power-hitting exhibition, thanks to Afridi’s brutal 55 off just 12 balls, a knock laced with one four and eight towering sixes.

Khawaja Nafay and Mohammad Shahzad gave Pakistan the early momentum, racing to 34-0 after two overs.

Shahzad’s cameo of 14 off eight balls ended after he retired hurt, but the platform had been set for fireworks.

Abdul Samad’s early dismissal for a duck brought Afridi to the crease, and what followed was sheer carnage.

Abbas Afridi wasted no time announcing his intent, clearing the ropes with ease as Pakistan stormed to 95-1 by the end of the fifth over.

With 67 required off the last two overs, Afridi’s monstrous hitting, including consecutive sixes off Yasin Patel, turned the equation on its head.

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He reached his fifty in just 11 balls before retiring hurt, leaving the finishing touches to Shahid Aziz, who smashed three consecutive sixes and a boundary in a rapid 23* off just five deliveries.

Nafay remained unbeaten on 25 off 11 as Pakistan crossed the finish line off the final delivery.

Earlier, Kuwait had posted an imposing total of 123-2 in their six overs, powered by Meet Bhavsar’s explosive 41* off 14 balls and Usman Patel’s 31* off nine.

Despite Abbas Afridi’s early strike to remove Adnan Idrees, Kuwait’s middle order flourished, punishing anything loose.

Bilal Tahir’s six-ball 24 added to the damage as Kuwait found boundaries at will, particularly in the overs from Shahzad and Samad, which went for 31 and 22 runs respectively.

Maaz Sadaqat’s tidy spell of 1-13 was the lone bright spot in an otherwise expensive bowling effort.

READ: Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan Jr suspended for ball tampering in Australia

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Irfan Jr has been suspended for five matches after being found guilty of ball tampering during a Victoria Premier Cricket fixture in Australia.

According to Australian media reports, match officials accused Irfan of deliberately altering the condition of the ball during a recent match.

Following an inquiry, a disciplinary tribunal upheld the umpires’ charge, confirming the sanction against the 6’6” right-arm pacer.

Irfan Jr, who relocated to Australia a few years ago, currently represents local clubs in domestic competitions.

Before moving abroad, he featured regularly in Pakistan’s domestic circuit and played for multiple franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

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The pacer made headlines in 2020 when he announced his decision to quit cricket in Pakistan at the age of 25, after being overlooked for Southern Punjab’s First XI selection.

Despite having participated in three PSL seasons for as many teams, Irfan was offered only a Second XI spot, a move that prompted his departure.

In his domestic career, Irfan Jr has taken 43 wickets in 35 T20 matches at an average of 22.04, along with 80 wickets in 22 first-class games at 23.65. In List A cricket, he has 38 wickets in 28 matches.

Known for his unorthodox bowling action and kabaddi-style wicket celebrations, Irfan was once considered one of Pakistan’s most promising emerging fast bowlers.

After leaving Pakistan, Irfan signed a long-term deal with the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club (WSDCC) in Sydney, intending to continue his cricketing journey in Australia.

READ: Shaheen Afridi eyes strong comeback in series decider

FAISALABAD: Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi lamented his side’s poor fielding and vowed to bounce back stronger in the series decider, scheduled to be played on Saturday.

South Africa chased down the 270-run target with ease in 40.1 overs, with Quinton De Kock and Tony de Zorzi starring for the Proteas.

Both left-handers batted briskly and threw Pakistan out of the game with an imperious 152-run partnership.

De Kock, in particular, returning to the ODI team nearly after two years, hit an unbeaten 123* off 119, studded with seven maximums.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, skipper Shaheen praised Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha for taking the team out of trouble.

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Pakistan were not only outplayed in bowling, but also in batting. The visitors had inflicted a poor start on them, reducing the hosts to 22-3 inside the first five overs. It was the 92-run partnership between Saim and Salman that launched the recovery for the home side.

“I think Saim and Agha did really well, and their partnership helped us. Firstly, losing three wickets, we thought 270 was a good score, but dropped catches cost us. We will come back strongly,” he said.

READ: De Kock’s 123* hands Pakistan a drubbing in second ODI

Ruben Amorim has told Manchester United to “focus on the future” following former Old Trafford star Cristiano Ronaldo’s withering assessment of his old club.

United are looking to rebuild following a woeful 2024/25 season, which saw them finish a lowly 15th in the Premier League and lose in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Ronaldo insisted this week United manager Amorim cannot do “miracles” at a club that is “not on a good path”, saying “they need to change and it’s not only about the coach and players”.

But when Ronaldo’s comments were put to his former Portugal team-mate ahead of this weekend’s trip to Spurs, the United boss said: “Of course he knows and he has a huge impact in everything he said.

“What we need to focus (on) is in the future. We know that we as a club made a lot of mistakes in the past, but we are trying to change that. So, let’s not focus on what happened. Let’s focus on what we are doing now, and we are doing that.”

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Amorim said the changes being put in place were having positive results.

“We are changing a lot of things in the structure, the way we do things, the way we want the players to behave,” said the 40-year-old coach.

“We are doing that and we are improving, so let’s focus on the way we are doing things. We are improving, let’s continue and forget a little bit the past.”

United have lost their last four games against Spurs.

However, they head into Saturday’s match unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, a sequence that includes a 2-1 win over champions and arch-rivals Liverpool.

Amorim, asked how United had changed since being beaten by Spurs in the Europa League final in May, replied: “First of all, the characteristics of the players. So, we are a better team, we play better, we understand the game better. I think we are more confident.

“We reached that final confident that we could win because we were doing well in Europe, but in this moment we play with a different confidence.

“We manage the moments of the game better. But if you remember that game, they had that shot on the goal; they won the game.

“So, I expect a different game, where we can play better, but also to have a little bit of luck to help us win the game.”

READ: Nqabayomzi Peter sets rare ODI record against Pakistan

FAISALABAD: South Africa’s leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter registered a rare ODI record with three caught and bowled dismissals against Pakistan in the second ODI here at the Iqbal Stadium on Thursday.

Peter returned with the figures of 3/55 in eight overs, including 22 in the last over.

During his spell, the 23-year-old picked up the wickets of Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shaheen Shah Afridi — all caught and bowled. With this, he became the first bowler in ODI history to achieve the feat in a single innings.

 

Overall, four Pakistani batters were dismissed caught and bowled, marking only the second such instance in ODI cricket. Saim Ayub was the other batter to be dismissed, caught and bowled,

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Nonetheless, despite a miserable start, Pakistan set a 270-run target in their 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Mohammad Nawaz.

Saim made 53 from 66, whereas Salman Ali Agha scored a grinding 69 from 106 balls. Meanwhile, Nawaz provided a late flourish to Pakistan’s innings, ensuring that the home side posted a challenging total.

For South Africa, Nandre Burger stood out amongst the bowlers and picked up four wickets in his quota of 10 overs.

Playing XIs 

FAISALABAD: Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 123* off 119 balls helped South Africa outplay Pakistan in the second ODI to level the three-match series here on Thursday.

South Africa chased down the 270-run target with ease, losing just two wickets in the process, with 59 balls to spare.

The series decider will be played on Saturday, November 8, at the same venue.

Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius provided the Proteas a brisk start, adding 81 in just 11.5 overs. Pretorius remained the core aggressor, scoring 46 off 40 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.

However, the monumental 153-run partnership for the second wicket between De Kock and Tony de Zorzi kept Pakistan bowlers at bay.

Both batters notched up half-centuries at a quick-scoring rate. De Zorzi fell after a brisk 76 from 63 balls studded with nine fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, De Kock continued till the end and scored his 22nd ODI century.

The southpaw returned to his best with an innings that included seven maximums and eight fours.

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For Pakistan, there was nothing much in the wickets columns with Mohammad Wasim and Faheem managing to scalp one wicket apiece.

Earlier, opting to bat first here at the Iqbal Stadium, Pakistan managed to post 269-9 on the board in their 50 overs despite a miserable start.

South Africa’s Nandre Burger inflicted a horror start with Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan sent back inside the first five overs.

Zaman was caught behind for nought on the third ball of the opening over, followed by Babar in the fourth. The right-hander made 11 from 13 balls while Rizwan could not extend his stay at the crease and was removed on the fifth ball of the same over for four.

As a result, Green Shirts were in tatters with 22-3 in 4.5 overs.

However, Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub paired up and stitched a 92-run partnership from 119 balls, which steadied Pakistan’s innings. Saim remained the core aggressor while Salman played second-fiddle.

The pivotal partnership was ultimately broken by Corbin Bosch in the 25th over when he caught and bowled Saim.

The opening batter made a significant contribution to Pakistan’s score, tallying 53 runs off 66 balls, which included five fours and a six.

Pakistan faced another setback when Hussain Talat was dismissed for 10 runs by Nqabayomzi Peter in the 30th over.

Agha played a key role in forming a crucial 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket with fellow all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.

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He was eventually dismissed by Bosch in the 41st over, finishing as Pakistan’s top scorer with a resilient 69 runs from 105 balls, which featured five fours.

Following Agha’s exit, Nawaz took control of the innings, making 59 runs off 59 balls, and hitting four sixes and three fours before being dismissed by Nqabayomzi Peter on the second-to-last delivery of the final over.

He received notable assistance from Faheem Ashraf, who delivered a quick-fire 28 runs off just 18 balls, including two sixes and two fours.

For South Africa, Nandre Burger shone as the standout bowler, taking four wickets in his quota of 10 overs.

India took a 2-1 lead in their T20 series against Australia with a 48-run demolition of the home side on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Thursday.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India reached 167-8 thanks to a well-made 46 from Shubman Gill and useful contributions from Abhishek Sharma (28) and Shivam Dube (22).

India’s bowlers then took centre stage, bundling Australia out for 119, with off-spinner Washington Sundar taking 3-3 in just eight balls to finish off the match.

India would have gone into the innings break hoping for a bigger score than 167, but the total proved too much for the Australians, who started brightly but fell away alarmingly after reaching 67-1 in the ninth over.

The visitors will now head to Brisbane on Sunday, hoping to clinch the five-match series after the opening game in Canberra was washed out.

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India had looked like reaching an imposing score when openers Abhishek and Gill took on the Australian attack in the early overs.

The pair put on 56 off just 6.4 overs with little trouble before Abhishek, who had smashed a huge six off leg-spinner Adam Zampa two balls earlier, tried a second time only to be caught by Tim David on the long-on boundary.

Dube joined Gill and continued to score freely against Zampa, but he found the pace bowling harder to handle and was bowled by Nathan Ellis to leave India 88-2.

Ellis claimed his second when he bowled Gill with India 121-3.

Any chance of a really big score disappeared four runs later when Yadav was caught on the boundary for 20, and the rest of the batting fell away.

Australian openers Marsh (30) and Matthew Short (25) made a bright start, but India’s bowlers kept chipping away, snaring wickets at key moments to take control.

READ: Ahmedabad likely to host ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final: reports

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 schedule is expected to be announced soon, with Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium likely to host the final of the mega event.

The mega event, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, is scheduled to take place from February 7 to March 8, 2026.

According to Indian media reports, the decision regarding the World Cup venues was under consideration during a meeting between officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

As per the reports, during the meeting, it was decided that this time around, the World Cup will be played in fewer venues compared to the 2023 World Cup, with each ground hosting at least six games.

The potential six venues could be Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai, as per the BCCI.

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Moreover, the matches in Sri Lanka will be played across three venues, with the stadiums to be confirmed in the meantime.

Notably, the board has confirmed that the venues that hosted the recently concluded ICC Women’s World Cup — Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Indore, and Navi Mumbai, won’t be under consideration for the T20 World Cup.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also confirmed to the BCCI that if Sri Lanka advances through to the semi-finals, the match will be played in Colombo. If Pakistan reaches the final, the game will be played at a neutral venue.

This is due to a hybrid model agreed upon between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in which both India and Pakistan will play their matches on neutral venues.

For the unversed, the 2026 tournament will retain the same format as the previous edition, with 20 teams divided into four groups of five. The top two from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, followed by semi-finals and the final.

READ: Shahid Afridi to represent Pakistan in Over-40s T20 World Cup

SINGAPORE: Pakistan’s Lyari Football Academy continued their dream run at the SingaCup 2025, qualifying for the Under-16 final, scheduled to be played on November 7 at The Arena, Woodleigh.

They secured their spot in the finals after defeating Indonesia’s Tapteng Sibolga Student Football Team 1-0 in an exciting semi-final match at the same venue.

It was Taj Muhammad who emerged as the hero for the Lyari side, scoring the decisive goal to guide his team into the final.

The victory marks a historic moment for the academy, which is participating in an overseas tournament for the first time.

Lyari Football Academy will now face Thailand’s Benjamarachanusorn School in the U16 final on November 7, 2025.

The Thai side secured their spot after defeating Pakistan’s Kareem Kerai Academy 5-0 in the other semi-final.

Interestingly, both finalists, Lyari Football Academy and Benjamarachanusorn School, were placed in Group C earlier in the competition.

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The Pakistani team suffered their only defeat of the group stage against the same Thai opponents, setting up a much-anticipated rematch for the title.

The SingaCup, established in 2011, is widely regarded as Asia’s premier international youth football tournament.

The 2025 edition has drawn around 160 teams from 13 countries, featuring competitions across Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, and Under-16 categories.

READ: Shahid Afridi to represent Pakistan in Over-40s T20 World Cup