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AL AMERAT: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have booked the final available berth for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan by eight wickets in their decisive Asia–East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier clash on Thursday.

The dominant performance saw the UAE chase down Japan’s modest target of 117 with ease, capping off a campaign defined by consistency and composure.

Haider Ali led the charge with the ball, claiming 3 for 20, before openers Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem stitched together a commanding 70-run stand to seal the victory.

With this win, the UAE joined Nepal and Oman as the three Asian representatives qualifying through the regional route for next year’s 20-team showpiece, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

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The full lineup for the 2026 edition is now complete. Alongside the two hosts, automatic qualification was granted to the top seven sides from the 2024 T20 World Cup: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, and West Indies, as well as Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland, who progressed based on ICC rankings.

From the regional qualifiers, Canada secured the Americas spot, while the Netherlands and Italy emerged from Europe, the latter marking their maiden appearance at a T20 World Cup.

Namibia and Zimbabwe claimed the two available spots from Africa, while Nepal, Oman, and the UAE completed the Asian contingent.

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: PCB announces ticket prices for Pakistan-South Africa white-ball series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced ticket prices for the white-ball series between Pakistan and South Africa.

The white-ball leg begins with the three-match T20I series, starting October 28 in Rawalpindi, followed by back-to-back games in Lahore on October 31 and November 1.

The three ODIs will then be played in Faisalabad on November 4, 6, and 8.

 

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Tickets for the opening T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium have been priced to suit a wide range of fans, with rates starting at PKR 400 for General enclosures and going up to PKR 15,000 for Platinum Box seats.

VIP tickets are available for PKR 800, Premium Enclosure tickets for PKR 700, First Class for PKR 600, and PCB Gallery seats for PKR 1,500.

For the Lahore leg at Gaddafi Stadium, ticket prices remain unchanged across both matches: PKR 400 for General, PKR 600 for First Class, PKR 700 for Premium, and PKR 800 for VIP enclosures.

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Fans seeking a more exclusive experience can opt for the VIP Far End (PKR 1,500), VIP New Pavilion (PKR 2,000), or VIP Gallery (PKR 2,500).

Meanwhile, the ODI series at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad offers similarly accessible pricing.

General enclosure tickets begin at PKR 400, with First-Class seats available for PKR 600 and VIP Enclosure tickets priced at PKR 800. The VIP Ground Floor seating, offering the best view in the house, is set at PKR 3,000.

READ: Indian star batter named ICC Player of the Month for September 2025

DUBAI: India’s rising star Abhishek Sharma has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for September 2025, owing to his sensational Asia Cup campaign.

The 25-year-old left-hander beat competition from teammate Kuldeep Yadav and Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett to claim the award.

Sharma was the standout performer of the Asia Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top run-scorer with 314 runs in seven T20Is at a staggering strike rate of 200 and an average of 44.85.

His run tally included three fifties, each crafted with remarkable control and aggression at the top of the order.

Among his most memorable performances were a fluent 75-run knock against Pakistan and a 74-run blitz against Bangladesh during the group stage.

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He later produced a match-defining innings in the semi-final against Sri Lanka, guiding India into the final with his signature mix of timing and temperament.

Reacting to the honour, Abhishek Sharma said he was humbled by the recognition and credited his teammates and the coaching staff for creating an environment that brings out the best in every player.

“It feels great to win this ICC award, and I’m happy that it has come for some important matches where I could contribute to the team’s success,” said Sharma.

“I’m proud to be part of a team that fights together and believes till the last ball. Our recent performances reflect our positive mindset and unity. I’m thankful to the team management for their guidance, my teammates for their support, and the ICC panel for this recognition.”

READ: Babar Azam fan breach prompts PCB to tighten Gaddafi Stadium security

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to enhance security around the dressing room area at Gaddafi Stadium after a fan managed to breach the players’ zone in an attempt to meet his idol, Babar Azam.

According to sources, the board has approved the installation of an iron fence between the spectator enclosures and the dressing room area to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The new fencing will ensure fans cannot directly access the players’ zone again,” a PCB source confirmed.

The incident occurred during the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa when a teenage fan climbed over the barrier from the Majid Khan Enclosure and made his way toward the dressing room.

He managed to slip past the stands and approach the players’ area before being spotted by members of the support staff, who immediately alerted security personnel.

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The intruder was detained and handed over to the police. Officials said the teenager confessed to entering the restricted area solely to take a selfie with Babar Azam.

A case was later registered against him for trespassing and interfering in official matters.

The incident briefly shifted attention away from Pakistan’s 93-run victory over South Africa, which gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Despite enduring a lean run with the bat in recent months, Babar Azam remains Pakistan’s most followed and admired cricketer.

His overall career numbers, more than 14,000 international runs across formats, continue to reflect his stature as one of the modern greats, inspiring unwavering loyalty among fans.

READ: Aqib Javed to supervise spin-friendly pitch preparation for Rawalpindi Test

Director of High Performance and national selector Aqib Javed is set to reach Rawalpindi on Friday to oversee pitch preparations for the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa.

The second Test is scheduled to begin on October 20 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the hosts holding an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

According to reliable sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has instructed the ground staff to prepare a turning track, continuing their ongoing strategy in home Test matches.

Sources revealed that the pitch curators have been working tirelessly for the past three days to ensure conditions favour spin.

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Aqib’s visit is aimed at reviewing the surface and ensuring it aligns with Pakistan’s tactical plans for the series decider.

Both teams are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday, with Pakistan riding high on their 93-run victory in the opening Test at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

The hosts defended a target of 277, bowling out South Africa for 183 on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Notably, Pakistan have leaned heavily on spin-friendly pitches in home Tests since last year’s series against England.

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After suffering a crushing defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test, Pakistan made significant changes under Aqib Javed’s guidance, both in team selection and pitch strategy.

The approach, which included preparing drier, spin-assisted surfaces, proved successful as Pakistan bounced back to win the remaining two Tests and clinch the series 2–1.

The formula has since become central to Pakistan’s red-ball approach at home.

READ: Amir set to spearhead Quetta Qavalry attack in Abu Dhabi T10 League

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has joined the newly-formed franchise Quetta Qavalry for their debut campaign in the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 League, slated to begin on November 18.

The franchise confirmed Amir’s signing through its official social media handles on Wednesday, unveiling the experienced left-armer with a bold statement.

“You asked for it. You waited for it. Now he’s here — Ladies and Gentlemen, Mohammad Amir. The Desert Spear, The Global Legend of Quetta Qavalry,” the franchise posted.

Mohammad Amir, one of Pakistan’s most seasoned fast bowlers in franchise cricket, adds immense experience to the squad.

The 33-year-old has featured in major leagues across the world, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Men’s The Hundred, ILT20, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Lanka Premier League (LPL).

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Across his extensive T20 career, Amir has bagged 458 wickets in 348 matches at an economy rate of 7.15, while representing Pakistan in 62 T20Is and taking 65 wickets on the international stage.

The Qavalry setup has been assembling a strong and diverse lineup ahead of their debut season.

Earlier this week, they announced Jason Holder and Liam Livingstone, while Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, USA’s Andries Gous, South Africa’s Imran Tahir, and UAE’s Muhammad Waseem have also joined the squad.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat has been appointed as head coach, bringing both local insight and international experience to the dressing room.

The franchise, owned by Nadeem Omar, who also owns Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, was officially launched on October 10.

Quetta Qavalry will compete in the ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, running from November 18 to 30.

READ: Mohammad Hafeez calls on PCB to focus more on red-ball cricket

Former captain Mohammad Hafeez has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift its focus back to red-ball cricket, following the victory over South Africa in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan’s 93-run win gave them a 1–0 lead in the two-match series, a statement performance against the reigning world Test champions.

Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the ball, combining for eight wickets in the second innings to bowl the visitors out for 183 while defending a target of 277.

Taking to the social media platform X, Mohammad Hafeez emphasised that a stronger red-ball structure holds the key to resolving Pakistan’s long-standing issues in other formats as well.

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“All formats technical & tactical issues will be resolved if we pay detail attention to red ball cricket of Pakistan,” Hafeez wrote.

“PCB management should prioritise red ball cricket at all levels. Best wishes Mohsin Naqvi.”

Hafeez, who has represented Pakistan in all formats, believes red-ball cricket remains the foundation of technical discipline and mental toughness, qualities that inevitably strengthen performances in shorter versions of the game.

Notably, Pakistan will now look to seal the series when they face South Africa in the second and final Test, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi from October 20 to 24.

READ: Nepal, Oman secure ICC T20 World Cup 2026 spots

Nepal and Oman have officially sealed their spots for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after confirming top-three finishes in the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier on Wednesday.

Both teams, unbeaten so far in the qualifiers, have now joined the lineup for next year’s 20-team mega event, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Their confirmed qualification comes ahead of their much-anticipated Super Six clash on Thursday.

Oman currently sit atop the standings, narrowly ahead of Nepal on net run rate, with both sides boasting three wins from as many completed matches.

Nepal entered the Super Six stage carrying two points and went on to edge out both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar in last-ball thrillers.

Oman mirrored that path, also carrying two points forward before registering victories against the same opponents to secure their qualification.

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With two of the three available spots locked, the battle now heats up for the remaining place.

The UAE are in pole position to claim the final berth, sitting third in the table, but Japan, Qatar, and Samoa all remain mathematically alive in the race.

For the UAE, the equation is simple: a win against Japan on Thursday will confirm their ticket to the T20 World Cup. Japan, meanwhile, need to win both their remaining fixtures to keep their hopes alive.

Qatar and Samoa, on the other hand, face a more complicated road. They not only need to win their respective matches, including their head-to-head clash on Thursday, but must also rely on other results and significantly improve their net run rates to stay in contention.

READ: Ahmedabad set to host 2030 Commonwealth Games

The Indian city of Ahmedabad is in a prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport announced on Wednesday.

The choice of Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, will be put forward to the full Commonwealth Sport membership, with a final decision to be taken at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.

“The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport has today confirmed that it will recommend Amdavad, India, as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games,” the Executive Board said in a statement.

Ahmedabad is the key city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world’s biggest cricket stadium. The venue is named after the premier.

India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

Ahmedabad got the nod over the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

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India’s Home Minister Amit Shah described the announcement as “a day of immense joy and pride for India”.

“Heartiest congratulations to every citizen of India on Commonwealth Association’s approval of India’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 in Ahmedabad.”

The future existence of the Commonwealth Games was in doubt last year when the movement struggled to find a replacement host for 2026 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew for cost reasons.

The Scottish city of Glasgow stepped in and will stage a slimmed-down version of the multi-sport format, meaning Britain will have hosted two editions in a row, after Birmingham in 2022.

The 2030 Games will mark the centenary of the inaugural event held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.

READ: Rain denies Pakistan historic Women’s World Cup win over England

COLOMBO: Pakistan were denied a shock victory over England when their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match was washed out as Colombo continued to be drenched by unrelenting monsoon showers on Wednesday.

Pakistan, rooted to the bottom of the points table and still searching for their first win in the eight-nation tournament, were left cursing their luck after putting England through the wringer with a brilliant bowling display that restricted the four-time champions to 133-9 in a game reduced to 31 overs.

Chasing a revised target of 113, Pakistan’s openers looked in fine touch, coasting to 34-0 in 6.4 overs, before the heavens opened once more and the game was abandoned at 9:58 pm local time.

Pakistan’s bowlers had their tails up from the outset, with captain Fatima Sana leading from the front.

She swung the ball into the batters and picked up three early wickets before returning after the rain break to snare another, finishing with eye-catching figures of 4-27.

“We showed today that we can beat any team. Disappointed about the rain. We were really good with the ball and the bat, and we would have been happy with a win,” Sana said.

It was the wicked inswinger that undid England’s top order, as four wickets tumbled to seamers, leaving the defending champions in dire straits at 39-4.

Diana Baig drew first blood by rattling Tammy Beaumont’s stumps, while Sana bowled Amy Jones through the gate with a brute of a delivery before removing Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt in quick succession with deliveries that jagged back sharply.

The spinners then tightened the screws, mopping up the middle order to ensure the seamers’ hard work didn’t go to waste.

Play was initially halted with England teetering at 79-7 after 25 overs.

When play resumed, Charlie Dean and Em Arlott offered some resistance, adding 47 runs for the eighth wicket.

England’s tail added 54 runs in six overs to give their bowlers something to bowl at, but Pakistan were well ahead when the skies opened again.

England had never lost to Pakistan in 16 previous ODIs and it needed bad weather to preserve that record.

It was the third rain-affected game in Colombo this World Cup after Australia and Sri Lanka split points without a ball bowled and Sri Lanka’s fixture against New Zealand also ended in a washout on Monday.

“Pakistan were top today and they never let us come back into the game. We fought back in the end, but we were not good enough. It was seaming quite a lot and we didn’t adapt well,” England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said.

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