Tag: Asia Cup 2025

DUBAI: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs to reach the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 final.

BAN: 124/9 (20 Overs)

19.6: This is the moment as Pakistan reach the Asia Cup 2025 final 

Haris to bowl the final over

BAN: 113/9 (19 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf to bowl the 19th over

BAN: 103/9 (18 Overs)

Haris Rauf comes back

BAN: 97/7 (17 Overs)

Shaheen back into the mix

BAN: 90/6 (16 Overs)

Saim is to bowl his final over

BAN: 85/6 (15 Overs)

Abrar to bowl his third over

BAN: 73/6 (14 Overs)

Saim to continue

BAN: 68/5 (13 Overs)

Nawaz continues

BAN: 64/5 (12 Overs)

Saim returns

BAN: 62/4 (11 Overs)

Nawaz back

BAN: 58/4 (10 Overs)

Abrar returns

BAN: 49/4 (9 Overs)

Saim Ayub to bowl his first over

BAN: 44/4 (8 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz comes to bowl

BAN: 38/3 (7 Overs)

Abrar comes to bowl

BAN: 36/3 (6 Overs)

Haris to continue

BAN: 29/2 (5 Overs)

Shaheen to bowl his third over

BAN: 23/1 (4 Overs)

Right-arm pacer Rauf to bowl his first over of the night

BAN: 13/1 (3 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

BAN: 9/1 (2 Overs)

Faheem Ashraf to bowl from the other end

BAN: 1/1 (1 Over)

Shaheen Afridi with the new ball for Pakistan

Pak vs Ban (2nd INNINGS)

DUBAI: Pakistan set Bangladesh a 136-run target in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Super Fours clash.

PAK: 135/8 (20 Overs)

Mustafizur to close out the innings

PAK: 124/8 (19 Overs)

Taskin comes to bowl the 19th over

PAK: 114/7 (18 Overs)

Mahedi Hasan to bowl his final over

PAK: 102/6 (17 Overs)

Tanzim Hasan to bowl his final over

PAK: 94/6 (16 Overs)

Mustafizur comes back

PAK: 83/6 (15 Overs)

Rishad Hossain to bowl his final over

PAK: 75/6 (14 Overs)

Taskin returns

PAK: 65/5 (13 Overs)

Tanzim Hasan is back to bowl

PAK: 55/5 (12 Overs)

Rishad Hossain returns

PAK: 51/5 (11 Overs)

Mustafizur Rahman returns

PAK: 47/4 (10 Overs)

Mahedi Hasan back

PAK: 37/4 (9 Overs)

8.1: Short and wide. Hussain tries to cut. Out. It was a perfect situation for Hussain to play a cameo; however, he fell, leaving Pakistan in dire straits.

Hussain Talat 3 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 42.85

Rishad to continue

PAK: 33/3 (8 Overs)

Tanzim Hasan returns

PAK: 29/3 (7 Overs) 

6.3: Fakhar tries to go big and ends up holing out to long off. What a wicket for Bangladesh. Cherry on top for Tigers

Fakhar Zaman 13 (21b 2×4 0x6) SR: 61.9

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain comes into the attack

PAK: 27/2 (6 Overs) 

Mustafizur Rahman to close out powerplay

PAK: 21/2 (5 Overs) 

Tanzim Hasan Shakib

PAK: 15/2 (4 Overs) 

Mahedi Hasan to continue after a successful first over

PAK: 9/2 (3 Overs) 

Taskin to continue

PAK: 5/2 (2 Overs) 

1.4: Saim tries to go down the ground. Caught!! Another one for Bangladesh and Saim has duck again.

Saim Ayub 0 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Mahedi Hasan from the other end

PAK: 4/1 (1 Over) 

0.4: Farhan tries to play one-up. Straight into the hands of the cover fielder. First blow for Pakistan.

Sahibzada Farhan  4 (4b 1×4 0x6) SR: 100

Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman to open the innings for Pakistan. Taskin Ahmed is back in the line-up and has the new ball for Bangladesh.

Pak vs Ban (1st INNINGS)

DUBAI: Bangladesh have won the toss and opted to bowl first against Pakistan in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours clash here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Thursday.

Playing XIs Pak vs Ban

Bangladesh XI: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (capt & wk), Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Head to Head

Pakistan and Bangladesh have played each other in 25 T20Is. Out of these, Pakistan has won 20, while Bangladesh has emerged victorious on five occasions.

READ: Ashwin Joins Shadab Khan at Sydney Thunder in BBL

DUBAI: Bangladesh have won the toss and opted to bowl first against Pakistan in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours clash here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Thursday.

Playing XIs

Bangladesh XI: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (capt & wk), Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Head to Head

Pakistan and Bangladesh have played each other in 25 T20Is. Out of these, Pakistan has won 20, while Bangladesh has emerged victorious on five occasions.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has begun reviewing a formal complaint filed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

The PCB lodged an official complaint against Yadav’s comments following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 group stage match on September 14.

The PCB’s complaint accuses Yadav of politicizing cricket and breaching the ICC’s code of conduct on neutrality.

The matter stems from Yadav dedicating the win to “the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack,” which took place earlier this year in April, triggering renewed cross-border tensions.

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“Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery,” Yadav said during the post-match presentation.

“Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile.”

The ICC confirmed it has received the complaint and is examining the matter. A formal hearing could be convened, with Yadav given the option of accepting the charge or contesting it before match referee Richie Richardson, alongside representatives of both the BCCI and PCB.

The match itself had already made headlines for the now-infamous handshake controversy, as the two captains did not shake hands at the toss, and players refrained from greeting each other at the end of the game.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Addressing the issue later, Suryakumar Yadav revealed that the decision not to engage in handshakes was taken on the advice of the BCCI and the Indian government.

“Some things are above sportsman spirit. Our government, BCCI, and we were aligned today… We came here to just play the game,” the Indian captain remarked at the post-match press conference.

The PCB has argued that Yadav’s comments crossed the line by using the cricketing stage for political messaging.

READ: BCCI lodges complaint against Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lodged an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan.

Reliable sources indicate that a complaint was filed via email on Wednesday regarding the on-field gestures of Pakistan players during the tense Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match in Dubai.

These incidents have since ignited widespread discussion on social media.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

The September 21 fixture, the second meeting between the arch-rivals in this year’s tournament, saw several heated moments between players on both sides.

Pakistan pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf exchanged words with India’s opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. However, the BCCI’s complaint specifically names Rauf and Farhan.

Rauf attracted attention while fielding near the boundary as he made gestures that depicted the action of bringing down a plane. This was interpreted as a mockery of India’s military action earlier this year.

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He performed these gestures in response to Indian fans chanting “Kohli, Kohli,” referring to Virat Kohli’s famous sixes off Rauf during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne.

Farhan, meanwhile, came under scrutiny for his unique half-century celebration, in which he mimicked firing a machine gun with his bat. The gesture was widely criticized as provocative.

If the two Pakistan players deny the allegations in writing, an ICC hearing may be convened to review the matter. The second match referee in the tournament, Richie Richardson, is expected to oversee proceedings.

READ: Younis Khan comments on India-Pakistan handshake controversy

KARACHI: Former captain Younis Khan shared his thoughts on the India-Pakistan handshake controversy that arose during their first encounter in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

The September 14 fixture was the first meeting between Pakistan and India since cross-border tensions resurfaced in May, and the unease was evident even before a ball was bowled.

Both captains skipped the customary handshake at the toss, something the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) alleged was instructed by match referee Andy Pycroft. According to the PCB, this move violated the spirit of cricket and the MCC’s code of conduct.

India’s seven-wicket win was quickly overshadowed by what came next. After sealing victory, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube walked straight off as the rest of the Indian players celebrated in their dugout, refusing to acknowledge Pakistan.

Speaking to the media at NIPA Sports Complex, Younis commented on the controversy surrounding players not shaking hands.

“Indian players not shaking hands is against sportsmanship. But they are following their government’s instructions. Still, if they don’t, Pakistan should win and extend your hand,” he advised.

The veteran emphasized the importance of professionalism, noting that Indian players benefit from fewer team changes and greater clarity about their roles.

“Neither India is weak nor Pakistan. Their plus point is that their is less changes in the team. That’s why they perform consistently,” Younis said.

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“Too many changes disrupt the combination. Avoid politics, play for the team and for Pakistan, not for yourself,” he added.

On the prospect of a Pakistan-India Asia Cup final, he said that it will be exciting to watch them in the summit clash.

“If it’s Pakistan versus India in the final, then what a contest that would be.”

Younis Khan also praised Shaheen Shah Afridi’s batting ability, saying he has the potential to develop into a genuine all-rounder.

“If Shaheen can bat, then why can’t others? He has the ability to become an all-rounder,” Younis remarked.

He also heaped praise on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, describing them as talented cricketers capable of delivering for Pakistan.

READ: Suryakumar reveals reason behind Dube’s promotion during Bangladesh clash

DUBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav opened up on the tactical decision to promote all-rounder Shivam Dube to the No. 2 position during their clash against Bangladesh in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours.

India thumped Bangladesh by 41 runs to seal a place in the final, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma’s sublime knock and Kuldeep Yadav’s guile with the ball.

Abhishek’s golden run in the tournament continued as he slammed 75 off just 37, plundering five sixes and fours, which set the tone for India to post a strong total.

With the ball in hand, Kuldeep Yadav continued to impress and took a three-wicket haul, which rattled Bangladesh’s batting lineup.

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Meanwhile, after a solid opening partnership of 77 runs in 6.2 overs, Shivam Dube was sent up the order in a bid to accelerate the scoring.

During the post-match presentation, Suryakumar shed light on the move and emphasized the match-up plan.

“They [Bangladesh] had a left-arm spinner and a leg-spinner, and Dube was the perfect match-up. His entry point (between overs 7-15) was also perfect. It did not go well, but going ahead, we will definitely try doing that,” he revealed.

He also talked about conditions and the total that India set on the board while highlighting the middle overs bowling key to their success in defending any total.

“If the outfield would have been really fast, it would have been 180-185. If we can bowl 12-14 good overs, we can defend any total,” Suryakumar continued.

“We did not get to bat first in the tournament, and that too in a crucial match. It was important to bat in the Super Four and how we do. The wicket was a little slower in the second innings (in the game on September 14 as well), and that is what happened tonight as well, with no dew, ” he concluded.

READ: Confident Jaker targets Pakistan clash to seal Asia Cup 2025 final berth

DUBAI: Bangladesh stand-in skipper Jaker Ali expressed confidence in his side despite their loss to India in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Wednesday.

India thumped Bangladesh by 41 runs to seal a place in the final, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma’s sublime knock and Kuldeep Yadav’s guile with the ball.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh, who were bowled out for 127 runs in 19.3 overs, still have a chance to qualify if they beat Pakistan in the game to be played tomorrow at the same venue.

Saif Hassan remained the lone bright star. The right-hander kept Bangladesh in the hunt with excellent ball striking. His valiant 69 from 51 balls was studded with five sixes and three fours.

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Speaking in the post-match presentation, Jaker shed light on the team’s performance and backed them to put in a strong showing in tomorrow’s clash.

“All credit goes to the boys. They are adjusting well. After ten overs, they bowled really well. We can take lots of things from this game. We have another game tomorrow,” he said.

“We have to keep in our mind that we can win this match and qualify for the final. We will talk with the team management, and let’s see what combination they give. We will give our best tomorrow,” he said.

READ: Dominant India defeat Bangladesh to book final spot, Sri Lanka crash out

DUBAI: Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman surpassed former captain Shakib Al Hasan to become the highest wicket-taker for his country in the T20I format on Wednesday.

The left-arm pacer surpassed his compatriot during Bangladesh’s clash against India in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 played here under lights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).

Mustafizur removed Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav in the 12th over, which marked his 150th scalp in the T20Is.

With this wicket, he climbed the ladder of the most wickets in the shorter format and surpassed Shakib’s tally of 149 wickets in 126 innings.

Most wickets for Bangladesh in Men’s T20Is

Mustafizur Rahman – 150 wickets in 117 innings
Shakib Al Hasan – 149 wickets in 126 innings
Taskin Ahmed – 99 wickets in 79 innings
Mahedi Hasan – 61 wickets in 64 innings
Shoriful Islam – 58 wickets in 52 innings

The 30-year-old now sits in the third position with only Tim Southee and Rashid Khan being ahead of him.

Most wickets in men’s T20Is

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 173 wickets in 103 innings
Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 164 innings in 123 innings
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) – 150 wickets in 117 innings
Ish Sodhi (New Zealand) – 150 wickets in 121 innings
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 149 wickets in 126 innings

Despite his clinical bowling effort, India emerged victorious by 41 runs, sealing a final berth in the Asia Cup 2025.

Put into bat first, India were restricted to 168-6 in their 20 overs, despite Abhishek Sharma’s 75 from just 37 balls.

In reply, Bangladesh, having a contrary start to India, crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, taking an excellent three-wicket haul in his quota of four overs.

Bangladesh will now face Pakistan in a do-or-die clash in a bid to secure their spot in the continental tournament’s final.

READ: ‘Tigers who?’ Shaheen Afridi draws blank on Bangladesh nickname

DUBAI: Abhishek Sharma’s sizzling knock and Kuldeep Yadav’s spin magic propelled India past Bangladesh, securing a place in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 final here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Wednesday.  

Set 169, Bangladesh faltered in the chase and were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs,  making their upcoming clash against Pakistan a virtual knockout.

The Tigers had a contrary start, with Tanzid Hasan sent back in the second over for one.

After an early wicket, Saif Hassan paired up with Parvez Hossain Emon for a 42-run partnership, which steadied them in the chase.  However, Kuldeep Yadav provided India with a breakthrough with Pervez’s wicket. He was caught after scoring 21 from 19 with the aid of two fours and a six.

As a result, Bangladesh were 46-2 in 6.2 overs and were in dire need of a strong partnership. However, India’s spinners chipped in and took control of the match with wickets at regular intervals.

The spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy tore through the middle order, with Saif Hassan the lone bright star.

The right-hander kept Bangladesh in the hunt with excellent ball striking, not before being removed on the second ball of the 18th over. His valiant 69 from 51 balls was studded with five sixes and three fours.

For India, it was an all-round bowling effort with every main bowler having their name in the wickets column. Yet, Kuldeep Yadav stood out with three scalps in his four overs while giving away only 18.

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Earlier, Abhishek Sharma’s whirlwind 75 from 37 balls powered India to 168-6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a strong opening partnership between Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.

The opening pair continued from where they left off against Pakistan, forging a 77-run stand in only 6.2 overs.

Abhishek’s dream run continued as he started to torment Bangladesh’s bowlers after a slow start in the opening overs.

The Men in Blue’s scorecard read 17 in three overs before Gill launched Nasum Ahmed for a four and six, with Sharma cashing in on the last ball with a six. The over yielded 17 runs and set the tone for what was to come next.

Both batters gained momentum and took 17 from the next over to give India a strong finish to the powerplay. However, Gill fell soon after the fielding restrictions were lifted. The right-hander made 29 from 19 with the aid of two fours and a six.

Bangladesh snared another wicket in the form of promoted batter Shivam Dube, who managed to score two.

Yet, India were cruising and were looking to post a near 200-run mark total; however, Abhishek Sharma’s run out in the 12th over controlled things for Bangladesh. The southpaw sublime knock featured five fewer sixes and six fours.

At this stage, India were 112-3 in 11.1 overs, with Bangladesh now taking control of the situation with regular wickets and eventually limiting them to a below-par total.

Hardik Pandya was caught on the last ball after scoring 39 from 29, striking four boundaries and a six.

Rishad Hossain remained the pick of Bangladesh’s bowlers, who chipped in with two wickets while giving away 27 runs in three overs.

READ: WATCH: Salman Ali Agha, team management console bereaved Wellalage

ABU DHABI: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha and team management expressed their heartfelt condolences to Sri Lanka all-rounder Dunith Wellalage following the sudden death of his father.

Salman, alongside white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, PCB Chief Operating Manager Sumair Ahmed Syed, board advisor Salman Naseer, and team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, offered condolences to Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video on its social media handles in which the captain and management were seen consoling the 22-year-old.

Dunith Wellalage father, Suranga Wellalage, was a former first-class cricketer. He passed away last week during Sri Lanka’s group stage fixture against Afghanistan in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

After attending his father’s funeral, Dunith Wellalage rejoined the national squad for their Super Four fixture against Bangladesh, which Sri Lanka lost.

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The 22-year-old all-rounder also penned an emotional note and took to Instagram to express his grief while extending gratitude to everyone who supported him through the tragedy.

“I want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who stood by me and my family during the most painful time of my life, after the passing of my beloved father,” Wellalage wrote.

“Losing him has left a void that can never be filled, but the love, strength, and support I received gave me the courage to keep moving forward.”

He especially thanked Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), his sponsors, law enforcement authorities, medical staff, as well as his former schools and clubs for standing by his family.

The young spinner vowed to continue chasing his cricketing dreams to fulfill his father’s wish. “My father’s dream was for me to continue this journey, and with all of you beside me, I will do everything I can to honor him,” he said.

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