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ABU DHABI: Former champions Sri Lanka launched their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh here on Saturday.

Chasing 140, the islanders got home with 32 balls to spare, with Kamil Mishara hitting the winning runs.

Mishara, a newcomer to the side, remained unbeaten on 46 to see his team across the line.

A blazing 95-run stand off just 52 deliveries for the second wicket between Pathum Nissanka (50) and Mishara provided the backbone of the innings.

Mishara arrived at the crease after Kusal Mendis fell in the second over. He took time to settle but soon cut loose, cracking Shoriful Islam for three consecutive boundaries.

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Nissanka compiled his 16th half-century before holing out in the deep. By then, Sri Lanka had the game firmly in their grip.

The platform for the win was earlier built by Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who throttled Bangladesh to under 139-5 from their 20 overs.

Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara struck with the new ball, sending down two maidens and removing both openers. By the third over, Bangladesh were nought for two and never recovered.

Sri Lanka’s fielders played their part too, with Mishara’s direct hit from deep square leg running out Towhid Hridoy to deepen the rot.

At 53-5 at halfway, Bangladesh were reeling, as leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, returning from injury, stamped his class with two for 25.

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A spirited unbroken 86-run stand for the sixth wicket between Jaker Ali (41) and Shamim Hossain (42) gave Bangladesh something to bowl at, but it was never enough to trouble Sri Lanka’s powerful batting unit.

Defending champions in the T20 format, Sri Lanka, now head to Dubai for their next clash against Hong Kong on Monday.

“We knew that we had to just score seven runs an over, and when I walked i,n Pathum asked me to take my time. Once the loose balls were on offer, I played a few shots. I have been working very hard on my game. Happy to have helped my country win a game,” Mishara said.

“This is not a 140 pitch. We should have scored much more than that. They put us under pressure during the Power Play, and we never recovered. Our next game against Afghanistan is a must-win clash. We will try our best,” Bangladesh captain Litton Das said.

READ: Shoaib Akhtar takes veiled jibe at Saim Ayub after duck against Oman

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar appeared to take a veiled dig at young opener Saim Ayub after the left-hander fell for a golden duck in the Asia Cup 2025 clash against Oman.

Ayub’s stay lasted just one ball as he misjudged a delivery that kept low while attempting a pick-up shot.

Struck on the back leg, he opted for DRS, but ball-tracking showed the delivery crashing into middle stump. Pakistan were reduced to 4-1 inside the first over, with Ayub walking back alongside the lost review.

Speaking during a post-match discussion on a local sports platform, Shoaib Akhtar underlined the importance of reading the game and settling at the crease, rather than relying on flamboyance.

“For a batsman, it’s about feeling the ball on the bat, judging the placement, the length, the bounce, and adjusting technique accordingly,” Akhtar said.

“You don’t need too much movement. Within two to four balls, a batter gets the feel. It’s not about playing no-look shots; it’s about understanding the game.”

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While Akhtar did not mention Saim Ayub directly, his remarks seemed to point towards the youngster’s costly first-ball dismissal.

Despite the early setback, Pakistan went on to dominate the contest. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris played a blistering knock of 66 off 43 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes.

Contributions from Sahibzada Farhan (29), Fakhar Zaman (23),* and Mohammad Nawaz (19) helped Pakistan post 160/7 in 20 overs.

In response, Oman collapsed under relentless pressure, folding for just 67 in 16.4 overs.

The bowling unit fired in unison as Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Faheem Ashraf grabbed two wickets each, while Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Nawaz chipped in with one apiece.

The comprehensive 93-run victory gave Pakistan a flying start to their campaign, moving them to second in Group A with two points and a healthy net run rate of +4.650.

READ: Barcelona’s Hansi Flick blasts Spain over Lamine Yamal injury issue

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spain national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga clash against Valencia.

The 18-year-old winger did not train with the Spanish champions because of a groin issue ahead of the game on Sunday, and is also a doubt to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday.

Yamal played twice for Spain in the 2026 World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkey last week.

“He will not be available, for me, it’s a pity. He went to the national team with pain, he did not train, he got painkillers for playing,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.

“In every match they were three goals (or more) ahead, he played 79 and 73 minutes. Between the matches, he didn’t train. This is not taking care of players.

“Spain have the best team in the world best players in the world. In every position, they are unbelievably good. Maybe also when we want to take care of players, young players, it’s like that, doing this… I’m really sad about this.”

Hansi Flick said he had spoken briefly to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente via text message, but their communication could be improved.

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“Maybe it’s all about my Spanish not (being) good, his English not good. Communication… there could be better,” continued former Germany coach Flick.

“I was also on this side (coaching a) national team, and I know how hard this job can be, but the communication with the clubs was always good.”

Flick confirmed Frenkie de Jong would also miss the Valencia game, but midfielder Marc Bernal is fit to return to the squad for the first time since suffering a long-term knee injury nine months ago.

Barcelona will play the game at their 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff training ground because the Spotify Camp Nou is not yet ready to be reopened.

“I spoke with the players, the captains, and they said it will not affect us,” said Flick.

“When we play at the new Camp Nou, 105,000 (capacity), maybe it’s a little bit different to playing at the Johan.

“As I said before, it’s not an excuse, I will not use it, Valencia also has to play in this stadium.”

READ: Fawad Alam rejects comparisons between Saim Ayub and Babar Azam

Pakistan Test batter Fawad Alam has weighed in on the ongoing debate sparked by Fakhar Zaman’s remarks, where the opener labelled rising star Saim Ayub as the “updated version” of Babar Azam.

In a recent interview, Fawad dismissed such comparisons, calling them unfair to Pakistan’s former skipper.

He stressed that Babar’s body of work, both internationally and domestically, stands in a league of its own.

“In my opinion, such statements shouldn’t be made. You can’t compare anyone with Babar Azam,” Fawad said.

“He has delivered exceptional performances in all three formats. Even before he broke into the national team, his quality was evident in domestic cricket. I’ve seen first-hand that no one in the current setup comes close to him.”

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The conversation was triggered by a video shared by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), where Fakhar praised Ayub’s flair and potential.

“Someone asked me in Lahore, and I told them Saim is Babar Azam’s updated version,” Fakhar had remarked.

“He is a very different player, and I believe he has not yet revealed 80 percent of his talent to the world.”

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson also weighed in, acknowledging that Ayub is still finding his feet but already influencing outcomes.

“Look, Saim is a key player for us. If he scores runs, Pakistan usually wins,” Hesson said.

“It’s less about the volume of contributions and more about their impact, and Saim has shown he can be a match-winner.”

READ: Wasim Akram urges Pakistan to focus on Asia Cup glory beyond India clash

DUBAI: Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has called on Pakistan’s players to look beyond the hype of facing India and keep their eyes firmly on winning the Asia Cup 2025.

Ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes Group A clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Akram advised the relatively inexperienced side to maintain perspective and not get consumed by the rivalry.

“Pakistan shouldn’t just aim to beat India; the real target is to win the Asia Cup,” Akram said. “Even if you lose to a strong opponent, the key is to stand tall and play well throughout the tournament.”

The match carries additional weight as it marks the first cricketing meeting between the two neighbours since a brief military conflict four months ago.

Yet Wasim Akram urged players and fans alike to strip away the politics and focus purely on cricket.

“Enjoy it, it’s just a game,” the iconic left-armer remarked. “One team will win, one will lose, that’s the nature of sport. The challenge is to handle the pressure, stay disciplined, and enjoy the occasion.”

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Drawing from his own career, Akram recalled thriving under the intensity of Indo-Pak encounters, including leading Pakistan during the tense 1999 tour of India and being part of the 1987 series at a time of heightened political tensions.

Both sides come into the Dubai clash in form.

India demolished the UAE in their opener, rolling them over for 57 and chasing the target inside five overs.

Pakistan, meanwhile, beat Oman convincingly, defending 160 before bowling their opponents out for 67 in 16.4 overs.

While India holds a dominant edge in T20Is, winning 10 of 13 contests, Akram reminded Pakistan that momentum can quickly shift.

“They are the T20 world champions, yes, but Pakistan just won a tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE. In tournaments like this, anything can happen,” he noted.

READ: Salt hits 141* as England crush South Africa with record 304 in T20I

Phil Salt hit his highest T20I score and quickest century by an England batter in a T20 international as the hosts hammered South Africa by 146 runs to level their three-match series at 1-1 during a record-breaking evening at Old Trafford on Friday.

Opening batter Salt’s astounding 141 not out was the cornerstone of England’s mammoth 304-2.

It was the first time in a T20 international between two Test-playing nations a side had reached 300, with India having come closest previously, scoring 297-6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024.

South Africa, faced with a colossal chase, unsurprisingly lost early wickets and were dismissed for 158 in under 17 overs, with skipper Aiden Markram’s 41 their top score.

An elated Salt told Sky Sports: “That was really good fun. A personal milestone, but the fact we got 300 and won by such a big margin, I can’t have asked for much more.”

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Only Zimbabwe, with 344 against the Gambia in October last year, and Nepal, who amassed 314 when playing Mongolia two years ago, have made more at this level.

Jofra Archer took 3-25 in three overs after the England express quick did not feature in the Proteas’ series-opening win in a rain-shortened match in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Salt’s 119, the existing England record at this level, had been at the heart of his country’s previous highest T20 total of 267-3 against the West Indies in Trinidad in December 2023.

The 29-year-old, out for a golden duck in Cardiff, turned the tables in style with a remarkable 60-ball innings featuring 15 fours and eight sixes on his Lancashire home ground.

His fourth T20 hundred — no other England batter has more than one — came off 39 deliveries.

It was also the quickest century in any format by an England batter, surpassing Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball effort in a T20 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2021.

READ: Fakhar Zaman hails Saim Ayub as ‘updated version’ of Babar Azam

DUBAI: A fresh batch of tickets has been released for the highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and India in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The organizers have released a fresh batch of match tickets on the DP World Asia Cup 2025 tickets platform. The batch includes Premium and Pavilion stand tickets.

Early in the day, the organisers stated that nearly 90 percent of tickets have already been snapped up, with general enclosures virtually booked out. Only a limited number of premium seats remain available.

As of Thursday evening, ticket prices ranged from AED 750 (PKR 57,000) for the most affordable seats to AED 3,500 (PKR 270,000) for premium spots.

On the cricketing front, India will head into Sunday’s clash brimming with confidence after dismantling the UAE in their tournament opener.

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The defending champions bowled out the hosts for just 57 and chased the target inside 4.3 overs to seal a nine-wicket win.

Pakistan, meanwhile, will begin their campaign on Friday against Oman at the same venue, with skipper Salman Agha leading a relatively young side through the group stages.

When it comes to T20I history, India holds the edge, having won 10 of the 13 encounters against Pakistan.

Their most recent meeting came earlier this year in Dubai during the ICC Champions Trophy, where India registered a six-wicket victory.

Squads

Pakistan: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

READ: Salman Ali Agha eyes clinical execution to beat any side after victory over Oman

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence and stressed execution ahead of their much-awaited clash against India in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 14.

Pakistan outplayed Oman by a hefty margin of 93 runs in their opening game on Friday here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The Green Shirts put on a 160-run total on the board in their 20 overs. Oman, however, in reply, faltered to a meagre score of 67 in 16.4 overs..

For Pakistan, it was an all-round bowling effort with each bowler chipping in as Sufiyan Muqeem, Faheem Ashraf, and Saim Ayub claimed two wickets apiece.

After the victory over Oman, Salman Ali Agha highlighted the shortcomings and praised bowlers for their efforts.

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“With the bat, we still need to work. But with the bowling, it was outstanding. The spinners bowled really well, Shaheen in his second spell, and Faheem also bowled well,” he said in the post-match presentation.

Salman emphasized spinners and their variety, alongside mentioning the conditions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We have three spinners, and all are very different. We have Saim as well; he is outstanding with the new and old ball. When you come to UAE, you need to have a lot of spinners.

It is hard to say, but the way we started, we should have scored near 180. It is just a game of cricket, you never know how it goes and how many you can score,” Salman Ali Agha explained.

Regarding the match against India, he emphasized Pakistan’s previous outings and the execution of their plans.

“We have been playing really good cricket. Have been saying it again and again. We have been playing good cricket in the last 2-3 months and we just have to play good cricket. If we can execute our plans for a long enough period, we are good enough to beat any team,” he concluded.

READ: ‘I’ll do whatever the team needs’: Mohammad Haris on match-winning knock against Oman

DUBAI: Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris opened up after playing an impressive knock against Oman in the fourth fixture of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Haris anchored Pakistan with a sparkling 66 off 43 balls, which lifted them to a 160-run total in their 20 overs. His innings was laced with three maximums and seven boundaries.

After Saim Ayub’s departure in the opening over for a golden duck, Mohammad Haris paired with Sahibzada Farhan to steady Pakistan’s innings.

The duo stitched an 85-run partnership from 64 balls, which eventually lifted them out of trouble.

In reply, Oman faltered in the chase and were eventually bowled for a modest 67 runs in 16.4 overs.

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For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Faheem Ashraf, and Saim Ayub picked up two wickets each.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Mohammad Haris reflected on his knock and the conditions for batting.

“Feeling very good. Much-needed innings for me and my side, happy to contribute. When we came here, it was looking good and flat. But when we batted, we were struggling. Good to post that total,” he said.

Haris was promoted to the number three spot after having a lean run while playing down the order. The right-handed batter shed light on his promotion and emphasized team contribution.

“Whatever the team demands, I can accommodate. Even if they ask me to bat at 10, I will be happy to do it. That was what I was doing from last 5-6 years for Pakistan and in the PSL. That is what I like. The skipper also told us to be aggressive, ” he concluded.

Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup 2025 high-intensity clash on Sunday, September 14.

READ: Fakhar Zaman hails Saim Ayub as ‘updated version’ of Babar Azam

DUBAI: Mohammad Haris’ sparkling half-century and an all-round bowling performance powered Pakistan to a massive win against Oman in the fourth fixture of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Set 161-run target, Oman faltered in the chase and were eventually bowled for a modest 67 runs in 16.4  overs.

Oman had a similar start to Pakistan as they lost their opener Jatinder Singh in the second over. Saim Ayub castled Jatinder for a single run.

After an early wicket, Hammad Mirza and Aamir Kaleem tried to stabilize Oman in the chase with a brief stand of 22 off 12 balls.

However, Amir departed after making 13 from 11 balls. As a result, Oman were reduced to 24-2 in 3.1 overs. Their chase was further dented with double blows in the seventh over and eighth over.

Pakistan continued to strike at regular intervals with no significant contribution from Oman’s middle order. Eventually, the whole team was bundled out for a modest score, resulting in a massive 93-run for Pakistan.

For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Faheem Ashraf, and Saim Ayub picked up two wickets each.

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Earlier, Mohammad Haris’ 63 off 43 balls helped Pakistan post a 160-run total.

Pakistan could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as their opener Saim Ayub fell for a golden duck in the opening over.

After an early blow, Mohammad Haris paired with Sahibzada Farhan to steady Pakistan’s innings. The duo stitched an 85-run partnership from 64 balls, which eventually lifted them out of trouble.

The stand culminated with Farhan’s wicket– 29 off 29 balls, as the scorecard read 89-2 in 10.6 overs. Meanwhile, Haris accelerated and notched his half-century on 32 balls.

However, Oman roared back with back-to-back scalps on the last two balls of the 12th over. Haris was the first to go, whereas Salman Ali Agha followed him after in a bid to dispatch a full toss, eventually getting caught at deep square leg.

Haris ‘ innings was laced with three towering sixes and seven fours.

The wicket sparked a mini collapse, which prevented Pakistan from going big in the latter half of the innings. With contributions from Mohammad Nawaz and Fakhar, Pakistan reached a decent total at the end of their allocated 20 overs.

Nawaz scored a vital cameo off 19 from 10 balls, whereas Fakhar Zaman scored 23* off 16 with the help of two fours.

For Oman, Aamir Kaleem and Shah Faisal picked up three wickets.

Playing XIs

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed

Oman XI: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh (capt), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Hassnain Shah, Shah Faisal, Mohammad Nadeem, Zikria Islam, Sufyan Mehmood, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Shrivastava

READ: Fakhar Zaman hails Saim Ayub as ‘updated version’ of Babar Azam