Tag: Pakistan

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Pakistan men’s hockey team continued their difficult debut campaign in the FIH Pro League as they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of Argentina at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club on Tuesday.

Argentina dominated proceedings from the outset, combining clinical penalty-corner execution with sharp aerial play to register a commanding victory and move to the top of the Pro League standings with 11 points.

Pakistan, meanwhile, slumped to their fourth consecutive loss and remain rooted at the bottom of the table.

Los Leones opened the scoring through Nicolas Della Torre, whose powerful drag flick from a penalty corner took a deflection off Pakistan defender Muhammad Abdullah and wrong-footed goalkeeper Muneeb Ur-Rehman.

Argentina maintained control through midfield and repeatedly exploited space behind Pakistan’s defence with long aerial balls.

One such aerial found Joaquin Toscani, who controlled well before delivering a bouncing ball into the circle for Bautista Capurro to deflect home, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Argentina struck again through Capurro in the second quarter after Maico Casella kept the pressure alive following a failed Pakistani clearance.

Casella found space and slid a pinpoint pass across the goal, allowing Capurro to tap in his second and make it 3-0.

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Pakistan showed some resistance early in the third quarter when Waheed Ashraf Rana produced a fine individual effort, driving into the circle and smashing a high shot into the net to briefly cut the deficit.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Argentina responded almost immediately.

Tadeo Marcucci released Tomas Domene with a precise pass, and although Domene’s initial backhand effort was saved, Tobias Martins reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.

Domene then capped an impressive outing by earning and converting a penalty corner with a low drag flick to make it 5-1.

The final quarter remained scoreless, with Argentina comfortably seeing out the contest to claim a convincing three points. Domene was later named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game.

The defeat leaves Pakistan in ninth place, having conceded 20 goals while scoring only eight, resulting in a worrying goal difference of minus 12.

Their campaign began with a 5-2 loss to the defending champions, the Netherlands, followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Argentina and a 7-3 loss in a high-scoring rematch against the Dutch.

Pakistan will now turn their attention to the Australia leg of the Pro League in Hobart in February, where they face a stern challenge against the hosts on February 10 and 13, followed by clashes with Germany on February 11 and 14.

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Pakistan’s all-format tour of Bangladesh is expected to be moved to a different window as both boards look to avoid a scheduling clash with the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), sources confirmed on Sunday.

As per the existing Future Tour Programme (FTP), Pakistan were slated to tour Bangladesh in March-April 2026 for a full bilateral series, featuring two Test matches, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals.

However, the original window now appears untenable after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced earlier on Sunday that PSL 11 will run from March 26 to May 3 next year.

The overlap has prompted discussions between the two cricket boards, with a rescheduling of the Bangladesh tour emerging as the most likely outcome.

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A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) source confirmed that the series will be shifted to an alternative window while making it clear that the tour’s structure will remain intact.

“The series will be rescheduled. The two boards are in discussions,” the source said, adding that the number of matches will not be reduced under any circumstances.

The source also indicated that adjustments could be made within the limited-overs leg of the tour, with ODIs and T20Is potentially being reshuffled to suit the new schedule.

An official announcement is expected once consultations with the PCB are finalised.

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DUBAI: Pakistan’s emerging batter Ahmed Hussain took an outstanding acrobatic catch during the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2025 clash against arch-rivals India here at the ICC Academy on Sunday.

Ahmed, fresh from a century in the previous outing against Malaysia, demonstrated his next-level fielding skills after pulling a fantastic catch at point during the 20th over of the Indian innings.

Left-arm spinner Niqab Shafiq bowled a wide delivery, which allowed the batter Vedant Trivedi to cut it through the point region; however, Ahmed Hussain plucked it out of the air, which left everybody stunned.

 

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Following the catch, seasoned commentator Roshan Abeysinghe was in awe and praised the fielder for taking a beauty while Ahmed’s teammates rallied around him in celebration.

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The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) also shared the video on its social media handles.

“Ahmed Hussain snatches it out of thin air! Vedant is frozen in disbelief ~ he has to walk back,” the caption wrote.

Nonetheless, India managed to defeat Pakistan by 90 runs as the Green Shirts’ batting line faltered in pursuit of the 241-run target.

Deepesh Devendran produced an all-round performance with the bat and ball as he scored a vital 46 runs lower down, which was backed by three wickets.

For Pakistan, Huzaifa Ahsan played a valiant knock, amassing 70 runs from 83 balls laced with nine fours and two sixes.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Usman Khan, Sameer Minhas, Ali Hassan Baloch, Ahmed Hussain, Farhan Yousaf (c), Hamza Zahoor(w), Huzaifa Ahsan, Niqab Shafiq, Abdul Subhan, Mohammad Sayyam, and Ali Raza.

India: Ayush Mhatre(c), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu(w), Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Deepesh Devendran, Kishan Kumar Sing,h and Henil Patel.

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DUBAI: Kanishk Chouhan delivered an all-round performance to help India brush aside Pakistan in the fifth encounter of the ACC U19 Asia Cup here at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy on Sunday.

Set a stiff 241-run target, Pakistan’s innings folded on mere 150 in 41.2 overs.

The Green Shirts were in trouble right from the outset, with previous match centurion Sameer Minhas dismissed for nine. Ali Hassan Baloch (0), Ahmed Hussain (4), and Usman Khan (16) followed him in quick succession.

Consequently, Pakistan were 30-4 in 13.1 overs.

After a shambolic display from the top-order, skipper Farhan Yousaf and Huzaifa Ahsan tried to arrest the slide with a 47-run stand.

Yousaf departed after scoring 23 from 34 with the help of two fours and a six. At this stage, Pakistan were 77-5 in 24 overs.

After the partnership ended, there were no other significant contributions from the lower order except Huzaifa Ahsan, who top-scored with 70 from 83 balls.

The Karachi-born batter scored nine fours and two sixes in his valiant knock, which ended in the 38th over.

Eventually, Pakistan were bowled out, handing India their second win in the tournament.

For India, Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan starred with the ball and picked up three wickets each.

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Earlier, Pakistan pacers Abdul Subhan and Mohammad Sayyam picked up three wickets apiece to bundle out India for 240 in 46.1 overs despite a rapid start.

In a match reduced to 49 overs per side due to rain, skipper Ayush Mhatre and  Vaibhav Suryavanshi added 29 in the first four overs. However, Green Shirts managed to scalp the prized wicket of Suryavanshi, who made five.

Despite the wickets, Mhatre scored briskly after pairing up with Aaron George. The duo stitched a 49-run partnership to propel the score to 78 at the end of 9.5 overs.

The stand eventually culminated with the Indian skipper’s wicket. He made 38 from 25 balls, which included three sixes and four boundaries.

At this point, the Men in Blue were cruising at a brisk scoring rate, but Pakistan made a comeback in the middle overs to curtail the Indian charge.

India lost wickets in quick succession in the middle overs, as Pakistan effectively squeezed the scoring rate. Yet it was George’s 85 from 88 deliveries, peppered with 12 fours and a six, that helped his side post a respectable total.

Kanishk Chouhan, meanwhile, remained the other notable contributor, lower down the order with a run-a-ball 46 laced with three sixes and two fours.

For Pakistan, Abdul Subhan and Mohammad Sayyam took three wickets, whereas Niqab Shafiq managed to bag two as well.

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DUBAI: Pakistan batters Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain put on a masterclass to hammer Malaysia by a massive 297 runs in the second match of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 at The Sevens Stadium on Friday.

After Malaysia captain Deeaz Patro elected to field first, Pakistan’s top and middle order took full advantage, posting a commanding 345-3 in their 50 overs.

The innings was anchored by a sensational third-wicket partnership between Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain, which completely turned the game in Pakistan’s favour.

Pakistan’s innings began on a shaky note as Usman Khan departed cheaply for a single, trapped by Nagineswaran Sathnakumaran in the second over with just four runs on the board.

Ali Hassan Baloch tried to steady the innings before being dismissed for 14.

At 30-2 in the 10th over, Sameer was joined by Ahmed, and they compiled a 293-run stand at a brisk pace.

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Ahmed Hussain scored a lively 132 off 144 balls, featuring eight boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed hit-wicket off Muhammad Akram in the penultimate over.

Sameer Minhas stole the show with an unbeaten 177 from 148 deliveries, laced with 11 fours and eight sixes.

Malaysia’s bowling attack struggled to contain the onslaught. Sathnakumaran took two wickets but was expensive, conceding 91 runs in his full quota of 10 overs, while Akram returned with figures of 1-64.

Chasing an imposing target, Malaysia’s U19 side capitulated for just 48 in 19.4 overs.

Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam shared three wickets apiece, Daniyal Ali Khan claimed two, and Niqab Shafiq chipped in with one.

None of the Malaysian batters managed to reach double figures, with captain Patro and Akram top-scoring with nine runs each.

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Pakistan produced a spirited performance but still came away empty-handed, slipping to a narrow 3–2 defeat against Argentina in their FIH Pro League fixture at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club.

In a five-goal contest that swung with momentum throughout, the hosts backed up their shoot-out win over the Netherlands a day earlier by claiming full points against a resurgent Pakistan side.

Pakistan began with impressive intent, pressing aggressively and creating clearer early openings.

Waheed Ashraf Rana forced Tomas Santiago into a sharp save from close range, before narrowly missing the far post on his second attempt.

Argentina, meanwhile, struggled to make their penalty corners count, with Tomas Domene’s backhand only catching the side netting.

The breakthrough eventually came for the hosts in the second quarter.

Thomas Habif’s incisive baseline run opened the play for Ignacio Nardolillo, who squared for Domene to finish from point-blank range, the only goal separating the sides at halftime.

The match came alive after the break, as Pakistan drew level through Muhammad Ammad, who cleverly redirected a Zikriya Hayat pass to make it 1–1.

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But Argentina responded instantly, showcasing their penalty-corner class.

Nicolas della Torre struck low to restore the lead, before Maico Casella added a second in quick succession with a powerful flick into the top of the net following a series of re-awards.

Pakistan replied with pressure of their own, earning three consecutive re-awards before Waleed Rana pounced on a rebound to trim the deficit to 3–2 just before the third-quarter whistle.

Both Pakistan and Argentina created half-chances in the final period, but the home team’s defensive discipline and earlier set-piece precision ensured the scoreline stayed intact.

Thomas Habif’s influential display earned him the Player of the Match award.

The result follows Pakistan’s 5–2 loss to defending champions Netherlands on their Pro League debut at the same venue.

The Green Shirts will meet the Dutch again on December 13, before concluding their opening Pro League stint against Argentina on December 15.

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Several Pakistan cricketers are unlikely to be available for the full duration of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season 12 due to overlapping international commitments, sources revealed on Thursday.

A strong group of Pakistan players has been picked by various franchises for the new BPL season, including Saim Ayub, Khawaja Nafay, Sufiyan Muqeem, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Ihsanullah, Haider Ali, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Amir.

However, their extended stay in the tournament now appears uncertain.

According to sources, it is “highly unlikely” that centrally contracted players will be cleared for the entire BPL window.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also weighing the option of restricting No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players who are permanent members of Pakistan’s T20I setup.

While all requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, sources emphasized that the board has not yet issued any outright refusals.

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The BPL is scheduled to run from December 26, 2025, to January 23, 2026, a period that directly clashes with Pakistan’s international calendar.

During the same window, Pakistan are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series, followed by a home T20I series against Australia later in January.

Franchises participating in the BPL have already been informed of the potential uncertainty regarding the availability of Pakistan players and may consider backup options accordingly.

Sources noted that players such as Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed are now considered regular members of Pakistan’s T20I core, further complicating their chances of featuring throughout the tournament.

Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka is scheduled for January 7, 9 and 11 in Dambulla and will form a key part of preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8.

Following the Sri Lanka tour, Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan for a three-match T20I series at the end of January.

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LAHORE: Pakistan cricketers set to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, commencing on 14 December in Australia, will prioritize national duty over the league, reports claimed on Wednesday.

This comes after the announcement of the T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which will be played on 7, 9, and 11th January in Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The series between the Green Shirts and the Islanders will serve as preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from 7 February to 8 March.

Following the Sri Lanka tour, Australia is scheduled to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series at the end of January.

According to the reports, Conditional No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are issued to national players for participation in overseas leagues, in which they are directed to prioritize the national duties over franchise cricket.

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Furthermore, the reports claim that players will prioritise the Sri Lanka tour over the BBL, and permanent members of the T20 squad are unlikely to receive exemptions from the series.

Notably, NOCs for the BBL have reportedly been granted to national cricketers from 14 December to 28 January.

The players who have received NOCs are Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Hasan Ali.

For the unversed, the 15th edition of the BBL will run from 14 December to 25 January 2026, featuring 44 matches scheduled in prime early-evening slots.

Babar is set to make his BBL debut for the Sydney Sixers. Shaheen Afridi was signed by Brisbane Heat as their first overseas platinum pick, and Rizwan joins Melbourne Renegades.

Rauf will represent Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan was signed by Sydney Thunder, Hasan Ali was drafted by Adelaide Strikers, and Hassan Khan will play for the Renegades.

Pakistan Sri Lanka T20I Series schedule

First T20I: Wednesday, January 7, Dambulla

Second T20I: Friday, January 9, Dambulla

Third T20I: Sunday, January 11, Dambulla

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Former South Africa fast bowler Wayne Parnell has hailed Pakistan’s rising all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat as the country’s “next superstar” following his impressive performances in the ongoing Nepal Premier League.

Maaz is currently representing Janakpur Bolts, who are being led by Parnell in the tournament. The 20-year-old Pakistani has made an immediate impact in his debut stint, underlining his value as a genuine all-rounder.

In three appearances so far, Maaz has scored 95 runs at an average of 31.66, striking at a breathtaking rate of 179.24.

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His contribution with the ball has been equally notable, as he has claimed three wickets at an average of 26 while maintaining an economy rate of 6.50.

Parnell, clearly impressed by the youngster’s composure and match awareness, publicly praised Maaz on social media.

Taking to Instagram, the Proteas veteran shared a mirror selfie with the Pakistani all-rounder and captioned it: “Pakistan’s next superstar, Maaz Sadaqat.”

Only last month, Maaz Sadaqat played a central role in Pakistan Shaheens’ title run at the Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship, where his all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

Batting with exceptional consistency, Maaz finished the eight-team competition as the leading run-scorer with 258 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 129, including two unbeaten half-centuries.

With the ball, he remained just as lethal, snaring seven wickets at a superb average of 7.42 and an economy rate of 4.33.

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KARACHI: Australia lifted the IMC Over-40s T20 Cricket World Cup 2025 trophy on Monday, edging past Pakistan in the final at the National Cricket Stadium with a seven-wicket victory.

Chasing a target of 151, Australia’s innings was anchored by Steve Nottle, who scored a calm 47 off 40 balls, and Steven Paulsen, contributing a crucial 42 off 34 deliveries.

The victory was sealed in emphatic fashion by Nasir Jalil, whose explosive 25* off just 10 balls, including a strike rate of 250, ensured Australia crossed the line with an over to spare.

For Pakistan, Fawad Alam fought valiantly with the ball, finishing with figures of 2-16, but it wasn’t enough to defend their total.

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Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat after winning the toss.

However, Australia’s Mark Cleary turned the game on its head with a brilliant spell of 5-22, keeping Pakistan under control despite useful knocks from Nadeem Javed (24), Fawad Alam (24), and Abdul Razzaq (19).

Pakistan could manage only 150-9 in their allotted 20 overs.

The IMC Over-40s T20 Cricket World Cup 2025 featured 12 international teams and included a total of 42 matches hosted across Karachi.

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