Tag: Champions T20 Cup

RAWALPINDI: Lions’ captain Imam-ul-Haq scored a quick-fire half-century to steer his team to an eight-run win over Panthers in the Champions T20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The Panthers, set a target of 161 runs to win, finished with a score of 152-6 in their allotted overs after they failed to score 16 runs in the final over of Shahid Aziz.

Danish Aziz scored an unbeaten 38 off 27 balls with five boundaries, while opening batter Umar Siddiq scored a 28-ball 38, hitting one six and four boundaries.

Sajid Khan struck two sixes in his eight-ball 17 while Amad Butt scored an unbeaten 13-ball 16 but those were not enough.

For the Lions, spinner Sharoon Siraj bagged three wickets for 19.

The victory propelled Lions to second position in the Champions T20 Cup points table with eight points from seven matches. Markhors are at the top of the table with 10 points while Stallions are third with eight points.

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Meanwhile, the defeat leaves Panthers in fourth with six points while Engro Dolphins are pointless with six defeats in as many matches.

Sent into bat, Lions had a solid start with Imam-ul-Haq and Hasan Nawaz putting 85 in 7.2 overs.

Imam cracked eight boundaries and a six in his 36-ball 57 while Hasan’s 22-ball 41 was spiced with three sixes and four boundaries. But once Nawaz fell to spinner Sajid Khan the innings fell apart.

Lions slumped from 110-1 to 160 all out with four balls of the stipulated 20 overs remaining unused.

Shahzaib Khan (16) and Khushdil Shah (13) were the other batters to cross the double figures.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir returned with figures of 4-23 in his four overs while pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr took 2-22.

READ: PCB Chairman reviews Champions Trophy arrangements at Gaddafi Stadium

Fast bowler Musa Khan, who is playing for Lions in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup, has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for level 1 breach of the PCB Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel during the match against Stallions.

The above-mentioned match was played on Tuesday, 17 December, during which Musa violated article 2.5 of the PCB Code of Conduct which says, “any language, action or gesture used by a Player and directed towards a batter upon his/her dismissal which has the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction.”

The incident took place when Musa dismissed Stallions’ batter Ubaid Shah in the 19th over and gestured a “Sent off towards pavilion” in a manner which fell under a code of conduct breach.

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The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Faisal Khan Aafreedi and Imranullah Aslam, while the match referee Kamran Chaudary imposed the fine.

It’s worth noting that Musa Khan returned with bowling figures of 3-32, while Khushdil Shah and Shahid Aziz took two wickets each to bundle Stallions for 168.

In response, Lions achieved the target in 19 overs at the loss of seven wickets. Hasan Nawaz starred with a brilliant 74-run knock while Rohail Nazir struck an unbeaten 26.

Lions are currently sitting in the third spot in the Champions T20 Cup standings, while Stallions are on second position.

READ: Saim Ayub breaks Brian Lara’s record during first ODI against South Africa

RAWALPINDI: Panthers overwhelmed a hapless Dolphins by six wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the Champions T20 Cup clash on Monday, with Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai starring in the win.

Wasim Jr. impeded Dolphins’s sailing with figures of 3-28 in his four incisive overs and was ably supported by spinner Arafat Minhas (2-11) and all-rounder Amad Butt (2-12) to keep their opponents down to 106-9 in 20 overs.

The win helped the Panthers get to six points in the Champions T20 Cup points table with three wins and as many defeats while the Dolphins sunk to a fifth defeat in as many matches.

Losing opener Sahibzada Farhan off the third ball of the innings to fast-rising pacer Ali Raza jolted the Dolphins from which they could never recover. Mirza Tahir Baig hit a rapid 13-ball 19 with a six and two boundaries but Wasim dislodged him in the sixth over.

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Mohammad Huraira fell for a three-ball duck and Umar Amin managed just four. It was left to skipper Faheem Ashraf (25), Muhammad Akhlaq (19) and Qasim Akram (14) to get the team past the 100-run mark. Faheem’s 34-ball fight had one boundary and a six.

Dolphins’s pacer Sameen Gul dismissed Umar Siddiq for five and Shadab Khan without scoring to leave the chase in tatters at 2-9. It became 3-14 when Ihsanullah accounted for Mubasir Khan, who returned for a four-ball duck.

But Abdul Waheed Bangalzai and Danish Aziz set the chase back on track with a solid 82-run stand for the fourth wicket. Bangalzai’s 38-ball 51 had two sixes and six boundaries. Danish hit a 34-ball 38 not out with three boundaries and a six as the chase was completed in 15 overs.

READ: Fakhar Zaman needs to let his bat speak: Shoaib Akhtar

RAWALPINDI: Fast bowler Shahid Aziz took four wickets while skipper Imam-ul-Haq and Hasan Nawaz played solid knocks to lead Lions to an eight-wicket win over Panthers in the Champions T20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a modest 124-run target, the Lions crossed the line in 14.3 overs for the loss of two wickets after they were set up by Shahid’s potent 4-20 which restricted the Panthers to 123 all out in 19.2 overs.

Imam-ul-Haq and Hasan Nawaz set up the win with a confident 79-run opening stand in 9.1 overs. Hasan hit three sixes and four boundaries in his fiery 31-ball 44 while Imam’s 38-ball 45 had five hits to the rope.

Pakistan U19 batter Shahzaib Khan chipped in with a 17-ball 28 not out, cracking two sixes and a four.

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With the win, the Lions opened their account in the Champions T20 Cup after losing their first two games. Panthers have now lost two and won one in their three outings.

Sent into bat, Panthers lost opener Sharjeel Khan for five before Umar Siddiq, who scored a 28-ball 26 with two sixes and as many fours, added 45 for the second wicket with Haider Ali (26).

Shahid Aziz, Khushdil Shah (2-26) and Musa Khan (2-32) triggered a middle-order collapse which saw Panthers slumping from 62-1 to 99-6.

It was Danish Aziz who rescued Panthers to a respectable total with a solid 27-ball 34 which were studded with four boundaries and a six.

READ: Shaheen Afridi becomes first Pakistan player to achieve THIS feat

RAWALPINDI: Opening batter Khawaja Mohammad Nafay smashed a fiery half-century to anchor Markhors’ two-wicket win over a fighting Dolphins on the fourth day of the ongoing Champions T20 Cup here on Tuesday.

Nafay’s 41-ball 68 was spiced with four sixes and as many fours that guided Markhors to chase the modest 129-run target in 18.5 overs.

The Misbah-ul-Haq mentored team is now second with four points while Stallions are top of the Champions T20 Cup points table, also with four points from two matches but have a superior net run rate.

22-year-old Nafay from Karachi lifted his team from the early loss of Fakhar Zaman (0), Muhammad Shahzad (11) and Abdul Samad (1). Nafay added 29 for the fourth wicket with skipper Iftikhar Ahmed who made five.

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Spinner Qasim Akram dismissed Khawaja Nafay leg-before and then two more wickets fell as Dolphins fought back but Mohammad Nawaz made sure the chase was completed with a cautious 19-ball 18 not out including two fours while Akif Javed hit the winning boundary.

Dolphins, who have now lost both their matches, were given an ideal start by fast bowler Sameen Gul who took three early wickets but other than him no bowler could detrack the rampaging Markhors.

Earlier, sent into bat, Dolphins lost Sahibzada Farhan in the first over, without scoring. Muhammad Akhlaq hit a 33-ball 40 studded with two sixes and three boundaries while Mirza Tahir Baig knocked a 28-ball 29 with two sixes and a boundary

Dolphins were relying on vice-captain Qasim Akram who scored 14 and experienced batter Umar Amin who managed just 11 as they slumped from 81-2 to 128-9. Nawaz grabbed 3-28 while fast-rising pacer Akif Javed finished with 2-33.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed clears the air on retirement statement

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has clarified his recent statement, which sparked speculation about his retirement from international cricket.

The veteran wicket-keeper, who is currently serving as the mentor of the Dolphins in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup, was questioned about his future during a media interaction last week.

“Look, as far as my career is concerned. I think I don’t need to say anything. Nothing is left. I know what you are waiting for and it will happen soon,” Sarfaraz responded, which fueled the speculations about his retirement.

However, in an interview with a local news channel on Monday, the former captain took the time to clarify his current status and future plans.

Despite the ongoing speculations regarding his retirement after being left out of the squad for the South Africa tour, Sarfaraz Ahmed asserted that he remains actively engaged in playing cricket and is open to seizing any opportunities that may come his way.

He reaffirmed his commitment and willingness to play for Pakistan in any position if given another opportunity.

“I’ve never demanded, ‘I want to bat here or there.’ If I am given the chance to play for the national team, I will gladly accept it,” he stated.

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The former captain stated that his decision to retire is deeply personal, and he will step down whenever he feels he can no longer contribute as a player.

“As far as leaving cricket is concerned, that is my personal decision. When I feel that I should quit cricket, I will quit,” he concluded.

Sarfaraz made his international debut for Pakistan in 2007 and has since become a significant figure in the team’s history.

He has worn the national jersey in 54 Test matches, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20 Internationals, amassing a total of 6,164 runs which includes six centuries and 32 half-centuries to his name.

His most notable achievement came in 2017 when he led Pakistan to its first-ever ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title with a stunning 180-run victory over fierce rivals India in the final.

Under his leadership, the Green Shirts achieved an impressive feat of 11 consecutive T20I series victories, the highest number ever accomplished by a captain of the Pakistan team.

However, his last appearance for the national side was in the first Test of a three-match series against Australia last year, where he managed to score only seven runs before being dropped from the squad.

Although he remained part of the Test setup for the home series against Bangladesh and the opening Test against England, he found himself warming the bench. Eventually, after a disheartening defeat in the first Test against England, he was released from the squad.

Meanwhile, his last appearance in a white-ball match for Pakistan dates back to November 2021.

READ: Tabraiz Shamsi names THIS Pakistani spinner as his inspiration

RAWALPINDI: Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik performed both with the bat and ball to steer Stallions to a narrow victory over Lions in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Monday.

Lions’ skipper Imam-ul-Haq invited Stallions to bat first and his bowlers reduced the batting side to 21-2 early on.

Maaz Sadaqat played a composed 32-run knock, while captain Mohammad Haris struck 25 to stabilize the Stallions’ innings.

Following the quick dismissals of Sadaqat and Haris, Hussain Talat joined hands with Shoaib Malik to construct an 88-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Malik scored 39 off 30, while Talat smashed an unbeaten 51 off 36 to take Stallions to a respectable total of 162-5 in 20 overs.

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In response, the Lions had a shaky start to the run-chase as they lost Zeeshan Malik in the first over. Imam added 71 runs for the second wicket with Hasan Nawaz before the Lions witnessed a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets in quick succession.

Imam top-scored with 43 off 28, while Nawaz played a 30-run knock from 25 balls.

Khushdil Shah played a scratchy knock of 28 runs from 29 balls, while Aamer Yamin struck an unbeaten 27 off 24 but could not take their team across the line as they managed to score 150-7 in their 20 overs.

For Stallions, Zaman Khan, Shoaib Malik and Usman Tariq took two wickets each, while Mohammad Ali bagged one.

It’s worth noting that the Stallions are currently sitting at the top of the Champions T20 Cup points table with victories in both of their matches.

READ: Can Sri Lanka still qualify for WTC final after South Africa series defeat?

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has recently hinted at his potential retirement ahead of the upcoming Champions T20 Cup.

The veteran wicket-keeper, who is set to mentor the Dolphins in the Champions T20 Cup, was questioned about his future in the national team during a media interaction at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Sarfaraz Ahmed responded in a sarcastic tone, acknowledging the speculation surrounding his potential retirement. He stated that there was little left for him to say and that he might be hanging up his boots soon.

“Look, as far as my career is concerned. I think I don’t need to say anything. Nothing is left. I know what you are waiting for and it will happen soon,” he said.

Sarfaraz made his international debut for Pakistan in 2007 and has since become a significant figure in the team’s history.

He has worn the national jersey in 54 Test matches, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20 Internationals, amassing a total of 6,164 runs which includes six centuries and 32 half-centuries to his name.

His most notable achievement came in 2017 when he led Pakistan to its first-ever ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title with a stunning 180-run victory over fierce rivals India in the final.

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Under his leadership, the Green Shirts achieved an impressive feat of 11 consecutive T20I series victories, the highest number ever accomplished by a captain of the Pakistan team.

However, his last appearance for the national side was in the first Test of a three-match series against Australia last year, where he managed to score only seven runs before being dropped from the squad.

Although he remained part of the Test setup for the home series against Bangladesh and the opening Test against England, he found himself warming the bench. Eventually, after a disheartening defeat in the first Test against England, he was released from the squad.

Meanwhile, his last appearance in a white-ball match for Pakistan dates back to November 2021.

READ: Ahmed Shehzad questions Sajid Khan’s exclusion from Test squad

RAWALPINDI: The inaugural edition of the Champions T20 Cup is set to commence tomorrow here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The five-team tournament, scheduled from December 7 to 25, is set to not only crown a champion but also serve as a critical platform for Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming white-ball mega-events in 2025 and 2026, including the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC T20 World Cup.

The tournament, which features 22 matches over 19 days, including six double-headers and eight single-headers, will begin with a double-header as Imam-ul-Haq-led Lions will take on Iftikhar Ahmed’s Markhors in the first match at 11:00 AM tomorrow while in the second match, Mohammad Haris’ Stallions will take on Shadab Khan-led Panthers at 3:30 PM.

Double-header matches will begin at 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM, while single-header games are set for 12:00 PM.

Five formidable teams — Stallions, Dolphins, Panthers, Lions and Markhors — will compete in a double-league format, with each team playing the others twice.

The top team from the league stage will advance to the 25 December final while the second and third-placed teams will compete in a Qualifier, ensuring an intense battle for supremacy.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strategically planned the Champions Cup events to provide players with high-pressure opportunities that bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.

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The first event of the Champions Cup series, played in List-A format, was held successfully in Faisalabad in September, throwing some good talent.

Recognising the challenges faced by emerging talent transitioning to the international stage, the initiative aims to enhance their adaptability and readiness for global competition.

The first step towards the next T20I mega event has already been taken through the induction of some new players in the T20I series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Adding to the tournament’s appeal is the mentorship of cricketing legends Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis. Their guidance is expected to hone players’ skills and instil the fearless, high-impact style of cricket that has become essential in the modern T20 game.

Tournament director Wahab Riaz is confident the event will be a launchpad for young players.

“PCB has been working really hard to improve and to give a lot of exposure to young players and I think with this tournament players will learn a lot by sharing the dressing room with those who have played international cricket and under the guidance of mentors the learning will be precious.

“From here on, once they enter the international arena they don’t have to worry about the pressure and would be equipped to meet the demands,” said Wahab.

Champions T20 Cup Squads

Stallions: Mohammad Haris (c)(wk), Azam Khan (subject to fitness), Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shamyl Hussain, Shoaib Malik, Tahir Hussain, Taimur Khan, Ubaid Shah, Usman Tariq (subject to fitness), Yasir Khan and Zaman Khan

Reserves: Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Jahandad Khan (to join after 14 Dec), Nasir Nawaz and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr

Dolphins: Faheem Ashraf (c), Asif Ali, Kashif Ali, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Suleman, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Irshad, Sameen Gul, Saqib Khan, Shayan Sheikh and Umar Amin

Reserves: Ihsanullah, Salman Khan Afridi, Waqar Ahmed

Panthers: Shadab Khan (c), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Ahmed Bashir, Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Haider Ali, Irfanullah Shah, Mohammad Ibtisam, Mohammad Umar (subject to fitness), Mubasir Khan, Rehan Afridi, Rizwan Mehmood, Sajid Khan, Sharjeel Khan (subject to fitness), Umar Siddiq (wk) and Usama Mir

Reserves: Ali Asfand, Aqib Liaqat, Azan Awais, Mohammad Zeeshan and Yousuf Babar (stand-by for Sharjeel Khan)

Lions: Imam-ul-Haq (c), Aamer Yamin, Arif Yaqoob, Faisal Akram, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Musa Khan, Rohail Nazir (wk), Shahab Khan, Shahid Aziz, Sharoon Siraj and Zeeshan Malik

Reserves: Afaq Afridi, Mohammad Awais Anwar, Mohammad Faiq and Sajjad Ali Hashmi

Markhors: Iftikhar Ahmed (c), Abdul Samad, Akif Javed, Bilawal Bhatti, Bismillah Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Muhammad Shehzad, Nisar Ahmed, Saad Masood and Zahid Mehmood

Reserves: Ali Usman, Ali Shafique, Ali Shan and Niaz Khan

READ: BCCI ready to accept PCB’s ‘fusion formula’ for Champions Trophy: reports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the ticket prices for the upcoming Champions T20 Cup, which is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from December 7 to 25.

The tickets for the five-team tournament will go on sale from Thursday, 5 December. Tickets can be purchased online from pcb.tcs.com.pk, while the physical tickets will be available for purchase at the designated TCS outlets in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

In order to encourage the fans to witness the high-quality action in the five-team Champions T20 Cup, entry to the Premium enclosures (Miran Baksh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat) has been made free for 20 out of 22 matches.

For the Qualifier, on 23 December and the final, on 25 December, the Premium enclosure tickets can be bought for PKR 100 and PKR 250, respectively.

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Tickets for the VIP enclosures (Imran Khan and Javed Miandad) can be bought at rates starting from PKR 200 and 250 for single header games while the VIP tickets for the double headers can be bought at PKR 300 and PKR 400.

The VIP enclosure tickets for the final of the inaugural edition of the Champions T20 Cup can be purchased for PKR 500.

Fans can also watch the action from the Gallery at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the tickets cost from PKR 650 to 700 for the single header matches while PKR 800 for the six doubleheaders in the tournament.

For the Qualifier, the Gallery tickets will cost PKR 700 per head while the fans can buy the 25 December final tickets for the Gallery worth PKR 1,000.

READ: Shahzaib, Riazullah star as Pakistan sink UAE to qualify for U19 Asia Cup semi-final