Pakistan Shaheens Archives

Maaz Sadaqat helps Pakistan Shaheens to beat Oman in Asia Cup Rising Stars

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens got their ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 campaign off to a flying start with a thrilling 40-run victory over Oman at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The opener was defined by a commanding all-round performance from Maaz Sadaqat, who starred with both bat and ball.

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan stumbled early, losing opener Mohammad Naeem for six in the second over.

Sadaqat, however, anchored the innings alongside Yasir Khan, putting on a 44-run partnership before Yasir fell for 26.

Mohammad Faiq’s quickfire 19 off nine balls helped Pakistan reach 101-3 by the 12th over, setting the stage for Sadaqat to take charge.

Sadaqat’s sublime batting saw him reach an unbeaten 96 off 54 balls, featuring five fours and nine sixes.

Meanwhile, captain Muhammad Irfan Niazi provided a blistering cameo of 44 off just 21 deliveries, smashing five sixes to accelerate the innings.

Saad Masood added late fireworks, scoring 19 off six balls, including two sixes, as Pakistan posted a competitive 220-4 in 20 overs.

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Chasing 221, Oman struggled from the outset. Ubaid Shah struck early to remove opener Sufyan Yusuf for three, leaving Oman 7-1.

A brief 57-run second-wicket stand between Hammad Mirza and Karan Sonavale offered hope, but wickets fell in quick succession. Sonavale was dismissed for 26, and Mirza ran out for 34, reducing Oman to 73-4 in under 10 overs.

Maaz Sadaqat continued to shine with the ball, taking two key wickets as Pakistan tightened the screws.

Despite an 88-run partnership between Zikria Islam, who scored 57, and Muzahir Raza, Oman could not recover.

Ubaid Shah wrapped up the innings by dismissing Shafiq Jan for a duck, sealing a 40-run victory for Pakistan.

Ubaid Shah finished with impressive figures of 3-29 in three overs, while Sadaqat and Masood chipped in with two wickets each, completing a dominant all-round display to give Pakistan a winning start in the tournament.

READ: PCB shortlists THESE six cities for new PSL teams

Pakistan Shaheens reach Doha for ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens have landed here on Wednesday to partake in the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025, which kicks off on November 14 at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium.

Led by middle-order batter Muhammad Irfan Khan, the Shaheens will begin their campaign with a clash against Oman on the tournament’s opening day.

The team is scheduled to hold its first training session on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. local time to fine-tune preparations for the eight-nation T20 competition.

The Rising Stars Asia Cup features a promising lineup of emerging talent from across the continent, with Pakistan placed in Group B alongside Oman, India ‘A’, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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Group A comprises Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka ‘A’.

After their opener against Oman, the Shaheens will face arch-rivals India ‘A’ in what promises to be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament on November 16, before concluding their group stage against UAE on November 18.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals on November 21, while the final is set to take place on November 23.

Before their departure to Qatar, the squad attended a four-day training camp at the Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre in Karachi from November 8 to 11, where the players underwent extensive skill and fitness drills under the supervision of the coaching staff.

Pakistan Shaheens squad

Muhammad Irfan Khan (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Faiq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Shahzad, Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Moqim, Ubaid Shah and Yasir Khan.

READ: ICC shelves two-tier Test championship plan: report

Irfan Khan to lead Pakistan Shaheens in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

LAHORE: Right-handed batter Muhammad Irfan Khan has been appointed to captain the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament, as confirmed by the country’s cricket board on Friday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad that will compete in the revamped ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 14 to 23.

Pakistan Shaheens are placed in Group ‘B’ alongside Oman, India ‘A’ and UAE, while Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka ‘A’ are placed in Group ‘A’.

Pakistan will play their opening match of the T20 tournament against Oman on Friday, 14 November, before taking on India ‘A’ on Sunday, 16 November.

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Their final group match will be against the UAE on Tuesday, 18 November.

As per the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held on 21 November. The final of the tournament will take place on Sunday, 23 November.

All matches will be staged at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

Before the team’s departure on 12 November, Pakistan Shaheens will undergo a training camp from 8 to 11 November at the Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.

Pakistan Shaheens squad

READ: Abbas Afridi’s blitz propels Pakistan to victory over Kuwait in Hong Kong Sixes

Pakistan Shaheens to play white-ball series with England Lions

The Pakistan Shaheens are set to play eight white-ball matches against England Lions in Abu Dhabi in early 2026.

The series will consist of three T20s and five 50-over matches. It will be the first away white-ball series for England Lions since touring Sri Lanka in February 2023.

The opening T20 will be played on Friday 20 February, before the five-match 50-over series begins on Friday 27 February.

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All matches will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

“This tour presents an invaluable opportunity for the highest potential England players to develop their white-ball skills,” said ECB Men’s Performance Director, Ed Barney.

“With a relative absence of top-tier 50-over cricket for the future England players, we know this, and future white-ball tours will play an invaluable role in developing the skills and experience to thrive on the world stage, particularly with one eye on the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.”

Tour schedule

1st T20: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Friday 20 February 2026
2nd T20: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Sunday 22 February 2026
3rd T20: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Tuesday 24 February 2026
1st 50-over match: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Friday 27 February 2026
2nd 50-over match: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Sunday 1 March 2026
3rd 50-over match: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Wednesday 4 March 2026
4th 50-over match: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Friday 6 March 2026
5th 50-over match: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Monday 9 March 2026

READ: Virat Kohli sets unwanted record during second Australia ODI

Critchell takes hat-trick as Perth Scorchers beat Pakistan Shaheens to reach final

DARWIN: Nick Hobson 59 off 43 balls, followed by Keaton Critchell’s hat-trick, powered Perth Scorchers Academy to a victory over Pakistan in the first semi-final of the Top End T20 series here at Garden Ovals on Sunday.

Perth Scorchers Academy, sent into bat by the Pakistan Shaheens, found themselves in dire straits early on, slipping to 69 for 6 within the first 10 overs.

A revival was sparked by Teague Wyllie, who charged to a sparkling 29 off 16 balls, setting the stage for a pivotal stand.

However, emerged in Nick Hobson, who anchored the innings with a resolute 59 off 43 deliveries—featuring seven fours and two sixes—and was ably supported by Matthew Kelly, who added a valuable 23 off 19 balls.

The duo steadied the ship, guiding the Scorchers Academy to a respectable total of 155 for 8 in their allocated 20 overs.

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For Pakistan, Shaheens Saad Masood, Mohammad Wasim, and Mehran Mumtaz stood out with the ball, each chipping in with crucial breakthroughs to keep the pressure alive.

Chasing a challenging target of 156, the Pakistan Shaheens lost early wickets and crumbled under pressure.

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At just 11 overs in, Keaton Critchell turned the contest on its head by claiming a sensational hat-trick, dismissing Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, and Mehran Mumtaz in successive deliveries.

He finished with figures of 3 for 13 from three overs, while Matthew Kelly and Bryce Jackson provided valuable support, each picking up two wickets to seal a crushing victory.

The Shaheens were bundled out for 107 in just 17.1 overs, handing the Scorchers Academy a dominant 48-run win and sending them into the final.

READ: Harvey’s unbeaten century powers Adelaide Strikers into Top End T20 semis

Muhammad Irfan Khan vows to lift Top End T20 series Trophy

DARWIN: Pakistan Shaheens captain Muhammad Irfan Khan has set his sights on the Top End T20 Series Trophy after leading his side to a thrilling one-run victory against Nepal here on Friday.

Pakistan Shaheens edge past Nepal by one run as Faisal Akram bowled a terrific final over under pressure with only eight runs to defend.

The drama unfolded in the last over with Nepal scoring four runs in the first two deliveries.

However, under pressure, well-set batter, Dipendra Singh Airee, attempted an unconventional reverse shot, which went straight to the fielder, resulting in his run out and emphatic win for Pakistan Shaheens.

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For Pakistan Shaheens, Irfan Khan bagged the Player of the Match award for his blistering knock. The right-handed batter made 42* from 26 balls, striking three fours and a six.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Irfan spoke about the condition in Darwin and lauded bowlers for defending a low total.

“The conditions were not easy, and we lost early wickets. We tried to play out the full 20 overs, and that effort paid off,” he said.

“Our bowlers bowled really well, which is why we won the match,” he remarked.

One question regarding the conditions, the skipper mentioned his previous outings in Australia.

“On previous tours, the conditions were different, and this year has brought a different challenge too. We always try to adapt ourselves according to the conditions,” he said.

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“In Darwin, the conditions are dry; they are not the typical Australian conditions,” he further remarked.

With this, Pakistan Shaheens are on the verge of reaching the semi-finals, and Irfan Khan has vowed to win the Top End T20 series Trophy.

“We came here with the determination to take the trophy, and we’ll keep working toward that goal, said Irfan Khan.

“The crowd is very energetic, and I really enjoy it—it gives us a big boost while we are playing,” he concluded by thanking the energetic crowd.

READ: Faisal Akram holds nerves as Pakistan Shaheens clinch last-ball thriller against Nepal

Faisal Akram holds nerves as Pakistan Shaheens clinch last-ball thriller against Nepal

DARWIN: Faisal Akram helped Pakistan Shaheens edge past Nepal by one run in the 30th fixture of the Top End T20 series here at Marrara Cricket Ground on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 144 runs, Nepal fell just one run short and could manage to score 143-7 in 20 overs.

With eight required in the last over, Faisal Akram held his nerves and ensured that Pakistan Shaheens ended on the winning side.

The drama unfolded in the last over with Nepal scoring four runs in the first two deliveries. However, wicket-keeper Ghazi Ghori displayed presence of mind and stumped Kushal Malla.

Akram bowled beautifully, and Aarif Sheikh could only manage to take a single on the second-last ball, with Nepal eventually requiring three runs of the last delivery.

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Under pressure, well-set batter, Dipendra Singh Airee, attempted an unconventional reverse shot, which went straight to the fielder, resulting in his run out and emphatic win for Pakistan Shaheens.

After losing an early wicket, Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel paired up to take them over the 50-run mark.

Sheikh departed after playing a measured knock off 27 runs from 30 balls. As a result, Nepal were 58-2 in 11.4 overs. However, Shaheens made a comeback with Gulsan Jha (3) run out in the very next over.

With Nepal losing quick wickets, Rohit Paudel remained firm and top-scored with 52 from 44 balls. His innings featured six boundaries and a four.

Despite the skipper’s removal, Nepal cruised in the chase until the 19th over with Dipendra Singh Airee keeping them in the hunt. Airee played a valiant knock off 41 from 21 balls, striking two fours and a maximum.

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For Pakistan Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim and Faisal Akram were the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets in their four overs.

Earlier, skipper of Pakistan Shaheens, Muhammad Irfan Khan, powered his team to a fighting total against Nepal with his 42 off 26 balls. Irfan’s knock included three fours and a six.

After deciding to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens mustered 144-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens could not capitalize on the decision as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

At one stage, the Shaheens were reeling at 74-7 in 12.3 overs until Muhammad Irfan and Mohammad Wasim’s partnership lifted them out of trouble.

Wasim made 23 from 22 balls with the aid of two fours and a maximum.

For Nepal, Sompal Kami took three wickets while Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav supported him well with two wickets each.

READ: BCCI considering THIS star batter to replace Rohit Sharma as ODI captain

Maaz Sadaqat’s century propels Pakistan Shaheens to victory over Adelaide Strikers

DARWIN: Opener Maaz Sadaqat’s 104 off 59 balls, followed by Mubasir Khan’s three-wicket haul, powered Pakistan Shaheens to a commanding 107-run victory over Adelaide Strikers Academy in the Top End T20 series here on Wednesday.

Chasing a daunting 203-run target, Adelaide Strikers were bowled out for just 95 runs here at Marrara Cricket Ground.

Pakistan Shaheens jolted the Adelaide Strikers early, reducing them to 16-2 in just 2.1 overs.

Opener Mackenzie Harvey, who top-scored with 27 off 17 balls, tried to stabilize the innings; however, he fell in the fifth over as Stikers were reeling for 37-3.

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The wickets continued to tumble as Harry Nielsen’s (12 off 11) dismissal sparked a collapse that Adelaide Strikers could not recover from.

Eventually, the whole team bundled out for a modest score in 16.1 overs.

For Pakistan Shaheens, Mubasir Khan was the standout bowler, picking up three wickets in his quota of four overs, whereas Faisal Akram and Mehran Mumtaz supported him well with two wickets each.

This was Pakistan Shaheens’ third win in five games, and they now sit in second position with six points.

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Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens demonstrated an impressive showing with the bat.

Shaheens scored 202-6 in their allocated 20 overs, courtesy of a mammoth opening stand between Yasir Khan and Maaz Sadaqat.

The duo forged a 149-run partnership in just 14.1 overs, hence helping Shaheens in posting a formidable total.

Yasir, who scored 51 off 35 balls, played a second fiddle while Maaz remained the core aggressor and went on to score a century. Maaz Sadaqat’s innings was peppered with 11 fours and two maximums.

For Adelaide Strikers, Harry Manenti picked up three wickets.

READ: Wasim Akram comments on India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash

Chicago Kingsmen thrash Pakistan Shaheens to seal third straight Top End T20 win

DARWIN: Milind Kumar and Tajinder Singh struck fluent half-centuries to help Chicago Kingsmen register a dominant victory over Pakistan Shaheens in the Top End T20 Series at Marrara Cricket Ground No. 2 on Tuesday.

Invited to bat first, the Kingsmen endured early jitters as two wickets fell inside five overs, leaving them at 31-2.

Shayan Jahangir steadied one end with a watchful 30 off 25 balls before departing to Mohammad Wasim Jr. with 57 runs on the board.

From there, Milind Kumar and Tajinder Singh took control. The pair added 102 runs for the fourth wicket, shifting momentum firmly in the Kingsmen’s favour.

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Kumar blazed his way to 74 from just 37 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries and three sixes, before a run-out ended his stay.

Singh then carried the innings forward, posting 58 off 37 balls, including four fours and two sixes, to lift his side beyond the 200 mark.

Chicago Kingsmen eventually finished with a commanding 206-5 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Pakistan Shaheens had a disastrous start to their chase as they slipped to 28-4 inside five overs.

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Yasir Khan (38 off 32) and skipper Irfan Khan (24 off 18) stitched together a brief 41-run stand, but once both departed, the chase lost momentum.

Shahid Aziz contributed 24 off 17 balls, while Wasim Jr. (16*) and Ubaid Shah (13*) added an unbeaten 30-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

However, Pakistan Shaheens could muster only 137-8 in their 20 overs, falling well short of the target.

The result marked the third straight win for the Chicago Kingsmen in the Top End T20 Series, while Pakistan Shaheens slipped to their second defeat in four outings.

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Ton-up Abdul Samad powers Pakistan Shaheens to victory over Melbourne Renegades

DARWIN: Abdul Samad produced a blistering unbeaten century to guide Pakistan Shaheens to a commanding victory over Melbourne Renegades Academy in the Top End T20 Series at the TIO Stadium on Monday.

Set a target of 179, the Renegades were bundled out for 105 in the final over.

Apart from opener Josh Brown, who made 36 off 30 balls, none of the top-order batters managed to reach double figures.

The side crumbled to 66-8 inside 13 overs before tailenders Xavier Crone (11), Callum Stow (15), and Michael Archer (14*) showed some resistance to take the total past 100.

For the Shaheens, Maaz Sadaqat led the attack with three wickets while Faisal Akram picked up two.

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Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens recovered from a shaky start to post 178-5 in their 20 overs, courtesy of Samad’s heroics.

The innings began in disastrous fashion as openers Yasir Khan and Khawaja Nafay departed without scoring, leaving the side struggling at 2-2 inside two overs.

Mohammad Faiq (21 off 18) and Abdul Samad added 32 runs to steady the innings, but wickets continued to fall, with the Shaheens slipping to 55-4 by the halfway stage.

From there, Samad took charge and reached his half-century with calculated strokeplay before cutting loose in the latter stages.

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The middle-order batter added 109 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Irfan Khan (23), a stand that turned the innings around.

Samad remained unbeaten on a scintillating 110 off 63 deliveries, laced with six fours and six sixes.

Mohammad Wasim Jr. chipped in with two not out as the Shaheens closed on 178-5. For the Renegades, five different bowlers shared a wicket each.

This result marked the Renegades Academy’s first defeat in the Top End T20 Series, while Pakistan Shaheens secured their second win in three matches.

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