Tag: Afghanistan

Maxwell’s double ton lifts Australia avoid Afghanistan scare to reach semis

Posted on by A Sports

MUMBAI: Glenn Maxwell’s marathon 201-run knock lifted Australia to edge spirited Afghanistan by three wickets to qualify for the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals.

Set to chase 292, Australia found themselves in deep trouble as Afghanistan bowlers ran through their top and middle order to restrict them to 91/7 in the 19th over.

Coming out to bat at number six, Glenn Maxwell played a sensational knock – aided by a couple of missed chances by Afghanistan fielders – and powered Australia to pull off an astounding victory with 19 balls to spare.

The right-handed batter put together an unbeaten and one-sided partnership with skipper Pat Cummins, who scored a responsible 12 runs. His 68-ball knock featured only one boundary.

Glenn Maxwell, who battled through cramps, smashed 21 boundaries and 10 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 201 in just 128 deliveries.

His 201-run knock marked the first double century by an Australian batter in ODI cricket and is also the highest individual score by an Aussie in a run chase.

For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid bagged two wickets each.

Ibrahim Zadran started the innings cautiously after his captain opted to bat, however, he lost his opening partner Rahmanullah Gurbaz (21) in the eighth over with a meagre 38 runs on the board.

He was joined by Rahmat Shah and together they added 83 runs for the second wicket to drag Afghanistan’s total to 121 before Shah was dismissed by Glenn Maxwell.

Rahmat Shah played a cautious knock of 30 runs from 44 balls, with a solitary boundary.

Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi assisted Zadran in knitting a 52-run partnership for the third wicket but he was cast by Mitchell Starc after scoring 26 off 43.

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Ibrahim Zadran held on to one end, amidst Australia’s clinical bowling, losing partner after partner and completing his fourth ODI hundred.

Rashid Khan joined the fray in the 46th over, with the scoreboard reading 233, he along with settled Zadran added 58 valuable runs from only 28 balls to help lift Afghanistan’s total to 291 in their allocated 50 overs.

Rashid Khan’s unbeaten 35-run cameo featured two boundaries and three sixes from 18 balls.

Meanwhile, Zadran finished his innings unbeaten at 129 runs from 143 balls with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes.

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood picked two wickets, while Starc, Maxwell and Adam Zampa managed one wicket each.

READ: New Zealand name five spin bowlers for Bangladesh Tests

AUS vs AFG: Afghanistan win toss, bat first against Australia

Posted on by A Sports

MUMBAI: Afghanistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the 39th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium.

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk) Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

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Australia

Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 3, Australia 3, Afghanistan 0

ODI World Cup: Matches 2, Australia 2, Afghanistan 0

READ: New Zealand name five spin bowlers for Bangladesh Tests

Afghanistan pip Pakistan in World Cup standings with Netherlands thrashing

Posted on by A Sports

LUCKNOW: Half-centuries from Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi after a combined bowling effort led Afghanistan to a resounding seven-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the 34th match of the ICC World Cup 2023.

A well-calculated victory lifted Afghanistan to fifth in the World Cup standings, replacing Pakistan, who have six points in seven matches.

Set to chase a modest 180, Afghanistan comfortably amassed the total for the loss of just three wickets and 111 balls to spare.

Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) and Ibrahim Zadran (20) failed to inspire in the modest pursuit and both returned to the pavilion in the 11th over with just 55 runs on the board.

Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah then put Afghanistan in control by stitching a 74-run partnership with both scoring half-centuries.

Shah, however, fell unlucky to go unbeaten as he handed a simple catch to Saqib Zulfiqar on his follow-through. He scored a 54-ball 52 with the help of eight boundaries.

Meanwhile, Shahidi stood his ground firm and knitted a match-winning partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored a brisk 31 not out.

Shahidi top-scored for Afghanistan with an unbeaten 56. His 64-ball knock featured six boundaries.

For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe and Saqib Zulfiqar could pick up a wicket apiece.

Opting to bat first, the Netherlands’ batting lineup unfolded in the 47th over, putting a modest total of 179 on the board despite Sybrand Engelbrecht’s half-century.

The Dutch side had a dismal start to their innings as Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed Wesley Barresi (1) in the first over.

Following the early blow, Colin Ackermann and Max O’Dowd put together an anchoring 70-run partnership for the second wicket and pulled their side out of trouble.

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The pair began to dominate the Afghan bowlers before O’Dowd’s sensible knock came to an end in the 12thy over, courtesy of a direct hit by Azmatullah Omarzai.

O’Dowd smashed nine boundaries on his way to a 40-ball 42.

Engelbrecht then joined Ackermann in the middle and they could put together a brief 19-run stand before the former fell victim to a suicidal running. He scored 29 in 35 deliveries, hitting four boundaries.

The dismal running between the wickets harmed the Dutch side again when their skipper Scott Edwards’ fell for a duck on the next delivery.

He went for a sweep but only managed an under-edge towards the keeper and Edwards, clueless of where the ball was, marched down the pitch and allowed Ikram Alikhil to dislodge the bails.

His dismissal sparked a collapse and the Netherlands began to lose wickets at an alarming rate.

Engelbrecht stood his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking singlehandedly until he, too, got run out, taking the total tally to four.

He top-scored for the Netherlands with a cautious 58. His 86-ball knock featured six boundaries.

Meanwhile, Roelof van der Merwe (11) and Aryan Dutt (10) added vital runs at the backend.

Mohammad Nabi led the bowling attack for Afghanistan with 3/28 while Noor Ahmad bagged two wickets.

READ: Kyle Jamieson replaces injured Matt Henry in New Zealand’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad

AFG vs NED: Netherlands win toss, elect to bat first against Afghanistan

Posted on by A Sports

LUCKNOW: Netherlands have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the 34th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at BRSABV Ekana cricket stadium.

Netherlands

Max O’Dowd, Wesley Barresi, Colin Ackermann, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Bas de Leede, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

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Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk) Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 9, Afghanistan 7, Netherlands 2

READ: Kyle Jamieson replaces injured Matt Henry in New Zealand’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Afghanistan stun Sri Lanka to boast World Cup semi-final hopes

Posted on by A Sports

PUNE: A combined bowling and batting effort propelled Afghanistan to stun Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the 30th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Set to chase a modest 242, Afghanistan comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just three wickets with 28 balls to spare.

Afghanistan’s pursuit, however, got off to a shaky start as Dilshan Madushanka castled in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a four-ball duck in the first over.

Following the blow, opening batter Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah anchored the run chase with a 73-run partnership.

The duo appeared to have settled down before Madushanka struck again to get rid of Zadran, who scored 39 off 57 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and a six.

Shah was then joined by his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and they kept Afghanistan in command by knitting a formidable 58-run partnership before the former perished.

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Rahmat Shah scored a 74-ball 62 that featured seven boundaries.

Shahidi then joined forces with Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored at a brisk rate to deny Sri Lanka any chance of a comeback.

Shahidi and Omarzai put together an unbeaten 91-run partnership with both scoring unbeaten half-centuries.

Omarzai top-scored for Afghanistan with a 63-ball 73, laced up with six boundaries and three sixes while Shahidi scored a cautious 58. His 74-ball knock included two boundaries and a six.

Madushanka led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with two wickets while Kasun Rajitha could bag one.

A convincing seven-wicket victory lifted Afghanistan to fifth in the ICC World Cup 2023 standings while Sri Lanka slipped to sixth, followed by seventh-placed Pakistan.

Afghanistan drew first blood after opting to bowl with the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne in the sixth over at a total of 22.

Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis then joined hands with Pathum Nissanka (46) to raise 62 runs for the second wicket before Azmatullah Omarzai broke the stand with the wicket of Nissanka.

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Mendis added 50 more runs with Sadeera Samarawickrama for the third wicket to help raise the total to 134, however, Mujeeb Ur Rahman sent both of them packing in consecutive overs to halt Sri Lanka’s progress.

Sri Lanka slipped from 134-3 to 185-7, courtesy of Afghanistan’s brilliant bowling effort, which looked poised to book them under 200.

However, former captain Angelo Mathews and Maheesh Theekshana stuck around to add 45 runs off 42 balls for the eighth wicket to aid Sri Lanka’s total to 230.

Fazalhaq Farooqi then rained on their parade as he picked up both wickets in back-to-back wickets before Kasun Rajitha’s run-out in the final over ended Sri Lanka’s innings at 241.

Other than Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman achieved figures of 2-38, while Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan picked one wicket each.

READ: Pakistan penalized following loss against South Africa

ICC World Cup 2023: Afghanistan win toss, elect to field first against Sri Lanka

Posted on by A Sports

PUNE: Afghanistan have won the toss and elected to field first against Sri Lanka in the 30th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (c)(wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera

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Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 11, Sri Lanka 7, Afghanistan 3, NR 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 2, Sri Lanka 2, Afghanistan 0

READ: Pakistan penalized following loss against South Africa

Chameera replaces injured Kumara in Sri Lanka’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Posted on by AFP

Dushmantha Chameera has been called into Sri Lanka’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad after fellow paceman Lahiru Kumara was ruled out through injury, the tournament’s event technical committee announced Sunday.

The 31-year-old Chameera, a veteran of 44 one-day internationals, was selected after Kumara was sidelined by a left thigh muscle injury sustained during training in Pune, where Sri Lanka play Afghanistan on Monday.

Kumara took 3-35 in Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket thrashing of defending champions England in Bengaluru on Thursday.

That success was one of just two victories 1996 World Cup winners Sri Lanka have managed in their opening five games of this edition.

They are, however, currently fifth in the ICC World Cup 2023 points table and still in with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Chameera becomes Sri Lanka’s third injury replacement at the World Cup after Chamika Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews.

Last week, former skipper Angelo Mathews was called into the Sri Lanka squad to replace injured fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

Meanwhile, Chamika Karunaratne replaced the regular captain Dasun Shanaka, after he suffered a quad injury.

Sri Lanka are slated to face Afghanistan tomorrow in Pune, with both teams having the same points, however, Afghanistan is placed at the seventh position in the points table due to a lower net run rate.

Sri Lanka’s updated ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Kusal Mendis (c)(wk), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Angelo Mathews, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne

READ: Pakistan penalized following loss against South Africa

Afghanistan upset Pakistan to ascend in ICC World Cup 2023 standings

Posted on by A Sports

Pakistan vs Afghanistan World Cup 2023

Pakistan

282/7 (50)

Afghanistan

286/2 (49)

Afghanistan Win by Eight Wickets


PAKISTAN vs AFGHANISTAN (2nd INNINGS)

Set to chase 283, Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provided a solid start to the team as the pair put together a century-plus stand as both scored half-centuries.

The duo dominated Pakistan bowlers before Usama Mir got the much-needed breakthrough for his side by dismissing Gurbaz in the 22nd over.

Gurbaz scored 65 off 53 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and a six.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim stood his ground firm and was involved in another anchoring partnership when he added 60 runs for the second wicket with Rahmat Shah before Hasan Ali got rid of him in the 34th over.

He top-scored for Afghanistan with 87 in 113 balls, hitting 10 boundaries.

Shah was then joined by his skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and the duo knitted a sensible 96-run partnership to steer Afghanistan to a historic victory with an over to spare.

Rahmat Shah scored an unbeaten 77 off 84 deliveries, laced up with five boundaries and two sixes while Shahidi scored 48 not out in 45 balls with the help of four boundaries.

For Pakistan, only Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali could pick up a wicket each while the rest of their bowlers went wicketless.

FALL OF WICKETS 

33.3: Ibrahim Zadran 87 (113b 10×4 0x6) SR: 76.99

Hasan gets some extra bounce off a length and Ibrahim departs. He looks to force it through the offside but is deceived by that extra bounce and can only edge it to Rizwan.

21.1: Rahmanullah Gurbaz 65 (53b 9×4 1×6) SR: 122.64

Afridi bowled short around middle and off, and angled across to finish outside off. Gurbaz seemed to be into his pull early, as the ball took off from the top edge for a simple catch

PAKISTAN vs AFGHANISTAN (1st INNINGS)

Opting to bat first, Pakistan put on a formidable total of 282/7 on the board, courtesy of Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam’s half-centuries, followed by a late onslaught by Iftikhar Ahmed.

Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique scripted a decent start for their side by putting up 56 runs for the first wicket, which lasted when Azmatullah Omarzai removed Imam (17) in the 11th over.

Abdullah, alongside Babar, then anchored the innings with a solid partnership before Noor Ahmed pulled things back with twin strikers, removing Abdullah (58) and Mohammad Rizwan (8) in his successive overs.

Babar then stitched brief partnerships with Saud Shakeel (25) and Shadab Khan before falling victim to Noor, who returned with splendid figures of 3/49 in his 10 overs. Babar top-scored for Pakistan with a 92-ball 74.

All-rounders Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan then launched a late onslaught on the Afghanistan bowlers, adding 73 runs in 45 deliveries before both perished in the final over.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan scored 40 each, while the former took just 27 deliveries, 11 fewer than Shadab.

FALL OF WICKETS

49.6: Shadab Khan 40 (38b 1×4 1×6) SR: 105.26

Naveen bowled short and wide of off and Shadab could not place it as intended and ended up handing a simple catch to Mohammad Nabi.

49.2: Iftikhar Ahmed 40 (27b 2×4 4×6) SR: 148.4

Iftikhar looked to loft this inside out, seeing that the ball was on a length, and wide of off. He got the elevation but went right into the lap of the fielder on the boundary.

41.5: Babar Azam 74 (92b 4×4 1×6) SR: 80.43

Noor bowled short and wide, inviting Babar to have a slash away from his body. He shifted his weight onto his back foot, and went hard, only to be caught by Nabi at extra cover.

33.6: Saud Shakeel 25 (34b 3×4 0x6) SR: 73.52

He miscued Nabi’s ball straight up and Rashid sprinted across from long-on and took a simple catch.

24.4: Mohammad Rizwan 8 (10b 0x4 1×6) SR: 80
Rizwan has to reach out to sweep that from wide outside off delivery from Noor, and the ball ends up spooning to the man at short fine leg.
22.3: Abdullah Shafique 58 (75b 5×4 2×6) SR: 77.33

Abdullah looks to sweep Noor but is hit on his front pad. Afghanistan reviews and it shows no bottom edge. The ball goes below the bat, and ball tracking shows the ball hitting the top of the leg stump.

10.1: Imam-ul-Haq 17 (22b 2×4 0x6) SR: 77.27

Imam attempts the pull shot to Omarzai but miscues straight to midwicket where Naveen takes a simple catch.

CHENNAI: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the 22nd match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

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Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmed

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 7, Pakistan 7, Afghanistan 0

ODI World Cup: Matches 1, Pakistan 1, Afghanistan 0

READ: Brydon Carse replaces injured Reece Topley in England ICC World Cup 2023 squad

ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first against Afghanistan

Posted on by A Sports

CHENNAI: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the 22nd match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

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Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmed

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 7, Pakistan 7, Afghanistan 0

ODI World Cup: Matches 1, Pakistan 1, Afghanistan 0

READ: Holders England suffer major setback to their World Cup campaign

ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan hold practice session for Afghanistan clash

Posted on by A Sports

CHENNAI: Pakistan Men’s cricket team held a full-strength training session on Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here ahead of their ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Afghanistan.

According to the details, Pakistan, who are on a two-match losing streak, engaged in a rigorous practice session for a crucial fixture against spirited Afghanistan.

The players partook in several batting, bowling and fielding drills to boast their preparations for their fifth ICC World Cup 2023 fixture.

The national team reached here on Saturday evening through a chartered plane from Bengaluru.

Pakistan is currently in fifth position in the ICC World Cup 2023 standings with four points in three matches, with a net run rate of -0.456.

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Pakistan suffered a thumping 62-run loss to Australia, courtesy of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh’s dominating centuries, followed by a disciplined bowling performance.

Set to chase a daunting 368-run target, Pakistan could accumulate 305 in response, before being bundled out in the 46th over.

Pakistan got off to a solid start as their openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq also fired with both scoring half-centuries.

The pair took Pakistan to 134 unhurt in 21 before Marcus Stoinis struck on his very first delivery to break the shackles as he outclassed Abdullah with a short-pitched delivery.

Stoinis then struck again in his next over to remove Imam and posted a major dent to Pakistan’s pursuit by removing both set batters in quick succession.

Imam remained the top scorer for Pakistan with a 71-ball 70, hitting 10 boundaries.

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Out-of-form Adam Zampa soon strengthened Australia’s command by claiming the prized scalp of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (18), causing the green shirts to slip to 175/3 in 26.2 overs.

Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan then put together an anchoring 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Pat Cummins got rid of Saud,.

Rizwan was then joined by Iftikhar Ahmed in the middle and he charged at the Australian bowlers before Zampa removed him in the 39th over.

Zampa then struck again in his next over and got rid of Pakistan’s mainstay Mohammad Rizwan to put the five-time champions in complete control.

Australian bowlers then ran through their batting tail and soon booked Pakistan on 305 to taste their second consecutive victory, which lifted them to the fourth position in the ICC World Cup 2023.

Adam Zampa led the bowling attack for Australia with 4/53 in his 10, followed by two each from Stoinis and Pat Cummins while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood struck out a batter apiece.

Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

Pakistan’s remaining ICC World Cup 2023 fixtures

  • October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
  • October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
  • October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
  • November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
  • November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

The day matches will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures, starting at 01:30 pm (PST).