Tag: Pakistan

COLOMBO: Uncertain weather conditions could play a decisive role when Pakistan take on Namibia in a must-win clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.

According to the weather forecast, cloud cover is expected to dominate throughout the day, while the likelihood of rain could rise to 50–60 percent, potentially disrupting play.

The region is currently witnessing thunderstorms, with temperatures hovering around 29°C, feeling closer to 30°C due to high humidity levels.

Strong northern winds are blowing at 19 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 37 km/h.

Humidity remains extremely high at 74 percent, accompanied by dense 100 percent cloud cover that has reduced visibility to just 1.6 kilometres.

Rainfall accumulation has already reached 5.9 mm, while the low cloud ceiling of 600 metres continues to create gloomy, storm-like conditions.

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Weather is expected to improve slightly by late afternoon. Around 4 PM, skies are forecast to remain cloudy but more stable, with temperatures steady at 29°C and a RealFeel of 31°C.

Winds will persist at similar speeds, though gusts could strengthen up to 43 km/h. Humidity is predicted to ease marginally to 69 percent, visibility may improve to around 8 kilometres, and the cloud ceiling is expected to rise to 3,100 metres.

Pakistan enter the contest under pressure following a disappointing defeat to India earlier in the tournament. The 2009 champions are currently placed third in Group A with two wins and one loss, carrying a net run rate of -0.403.

A victory against Namibia would secure Pakistan six points and confirm their progression to the Super Eight stage with a second-place finish in the group.

READ: Usman Tariq defends out-of-form Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to tour Bangladesh following the conclusion of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a three-match ODI series scheduled in March.

The ODI series will be played in Dhaka on March 12, 14 and 16, marking the start of Pakistan’s white-ball assignment in Bangladesh.

The Green Shirts will return home and will tour Bangladesh again in May after the completion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

The two sides will meet for a two-match Test series in May, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

The first Test is slated to take place in Dhaka from May 8 to 12, while the second Test will be held in Chattogram from May 16 to 20.

Pakistan’s visit forms part of Bangladesh’s packed home international calendar for the 2026 season.

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The Tigers are scheduled to host four Tests, 12 ODIs and nine T20Is across the year, beginning with Pakistan’s tour immediately after the T20 World Cup.

After Pakistan ODIs, the New Zealand men’s cricket team will arrive for a white-ball series starting April 17.

Later in the season, Australia are also set to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is, with matches scheduled around mid-June.

Bangladesh are further expected to host India for a limited-overs series in August-September 2026, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, following a two-match Test series against the West Indies men’s cricket team under the WTC.

However, uncertainty surrounds India’s tour after recent tensions, including Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India, where they were replaced by Scotland.

Schedule of Pakistan-Bangladesh series

• First ODI – March 12
• Second ODI – March 14
• Third ODI – March 16
• First Test – May 8 to 12
• Second Test – May 16 to 20

READ: Ganguly downplays excitement over India-Pakistan match

COLOMBO: Skipper Salman Ali Agha admitted that Pakistan’s poor execution proved costly as they slumped to a big defeat against arch-rivals India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the RPS Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan were outplayed by India in all departments, handing them 61 run defeat.

Ishan Kishan starred with the bat, scoring 77 runs from 40 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes.

In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, extending India’s record to nine wins in T20 World Cups.

The Green Shirts have defeated India only once at a mega event in 2021.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Agha highlighted the match’s shortcomings, noting that the powerplay proved costly to the outcome.

“We went with four spinners, they had an off-day. Execution was missing in some parts. With the bat, we did not start well. If you lose 3-4 wickets in the powerplay, you are always chasing the game,” he said.

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“In the first innings, it was a bit tacky, and the ball was gripping too. The pitch played better in the second innings but we did not bowl according to the situation and we did not apply ourselves with the bat,” the captain added.

He hoped for better performance in the forthcoming game, saying they were looking forward to the Namibia clash.

“In these games, the emotions are always going to be high, we just need to deal with it. We have played enough (of these games), we have a game in a couple of days, and we have to look forward to it. We need to win that and qualify. Then it is a new tournament,” he concluded.

READ: T20 World Cup: Pakistan register unique spin record against India

COLOMBO: Ishan Kishan’s majestic 77 and a resounding bowling performance from India bowlers overwhelmed Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played here at the RPS Stadium on Sunday.

Set a stiff 176, Pakistan fell way short of the target and were skittled for 114 in 18 overs.

Pakistan were off to a horror start as they lost 13-3 in the first two overs.

Hardik Pandya started the proceedings with Sahibzada Farhan’s (0) wicket before ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah sent back Saim Ayub (6) and Salman Ali Agha (4) in one over.

After an early blow, Usman Khan and Babar Azam tried to arrest the slide with a brief 21-run partnership.

However, the Green Shirts’ woes compounded when Babar Azam, trying to play slog sweep, was cleaned bowled by Axar Patel.

His poor run in the T20Is continued as he managed only five.

Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Usman counterattacked in a bid to take control of the required run rate.

His resistance ended when Pakistan were 73 in 10.4 overs. He remained the top-scorer with 44 from 34 balls, laced with six fours and a six.

Following his dismissal, Pakistan’s innings quickly unraveled with none of the batters showing grit in front of a disciplined Indian bowling attack.

For India, it was an all-round bowling performance with each of the main bowlers picking up a wicket.

Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, Ishan Kishan’s batting carnage powered India into a commanding position before Saim Ayub’s spin wizardry halted their progress.

Put into bat first, India racked up 175-7 in their 20 overs.

Pakistan inflicted a poor start on India with Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal in the very first over.

The left-hander was caught for a duck in an interesting move from skipper Salman Ali Agha, who himself decided to bowl the opening over.

After an early wicket, Ishan Kishan unleashed fireworks that Pakistan could not control till the halfway mark of the innings.

He forged a 87 run partnership off 46 with Tilak Varma to keep India afloat. The pair brought the scorecard to 88 in 8.4 overs.

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Kishan played the core aggressor role while Varma played the second fiddle.

Pakistan managed to hold on as the stand eventually culminated with Kishan’s wicket.

He remained the top-scorer with a sublime 77 from 40, peppered with 10 fours and three sixes.

Despite the wicket, India carried on the momentum as skipper Suryakumar Yadav stitched a cautious 38-run stand with Varma.

India were 126 in 14.2 overs when Saim Ayub turned the game with his double-wicket over.

The right-arm off-spinner removed Varma and Haridk Pandya on back-to-back deliveries to make a strong comeback.

Varma made a sluggish 25 from 24 with the aid of a six and two fours, whereas Pandya was caught on long off for a duck.

Consequently, India suddenly slumped to 126-4 in 14.3 overs.

After quick wickets, Pakistan effectively managed to slow down India’s progress despite a brief stand of 33 between Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube.

Yadav eventually departed after scoring 32 from 29, while Dube played till the end, ensuring that India posted an above-par score.

The left-hander struck 27 off 17 with the aid of three fours and a six.

For Pakistan, it was Saim Ayub who stood out with the ball, picking up three wickets in his four overs while giving away only 25.

Usman Tariq was the other bowler who remained economical. The off-spinner gave only 24 in his four overs and took the important wicket of the Indian skipper.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed.

India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

READ: USA keep T20 World Cup hopes alive with win over Namibia

COLOMBO: Ishan Kishan’s quick-fire 77, followed by a dominant bowling attack, helped India defeat Pakistan in the blockbuster match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.

IND 114 (18 Overs)

17.6: Usman Tariq 0 (3)
Tariq backs away and then makes a feeble attempt at a back-foot punch. The ball breezes past the outside edge and then rattles into the stumps.

Hardik Pandya to bowl

IND 106/9 (17 Overs)

Rinku Singh to bowl now

IND 97/9 (16 Overs)

15.4: Abrar Ahmed 0 (1)
Googly on the back of a length just outside off. Abrar has no clue about it. The ball jams him on the pad right in front.

15.3: Faheem Ashraf 10 (14)
Faheem chances his arm, but the ball is well inside the deep mid-wicket fence, and Rinku was never going to drop that.

Varun Chakravarthy returns

IND 94/7 (15 Overs)

Tilak Varma continues

IND 89/7 (14 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

IND 84/7 (13 Overs)

12.1: Shadab Khan 14 (15)
Shadab thinks he can smash this into the ocean, but slices across it way too much, and Dube settles under it at long off to hand Tilak a wicket.

Tilak Varma gets the ball

IND 78/6 (12 Overs)

11.4: Mohammad Nawaz 4 (5)
Nawaz tries to shovel it away, but the shot lacks the power to clear the fence. Shivam Dube moves a little to his right and pouches it.

Kuldeep Yadav continues

IND 73/5 (11 Overs)

10.4: Usman Khan 44 (34)
Usman steps out of his crease and is nowhere close to the pitch of the ball; the wicket-keeper whipped off the bails.

Axar Patel continues

IND 71/4 (10 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav comes to bowl

IND 66/4 (9 Overs)

Axar Patel continues

IND 57/4 (8 Overs)

Varun Chakravarthy continues

IND 47/4 (7 Overs)

Axar Patel continues

IND 38/4 (6 Overs)

Varun Chakravarthy comes to bowl

IND 34/4 (5 Overs)

4.5: Babar Azam 5 (7)
Babar has a massive slog at it and gets nowhere close to the ball, which also comes in with the arm.

Axar Patel replaces Hardik Pandya

IND 25/3 (4 Overs)

Bumrah continues

IND 21/3 (3 Overs)

Hardik Pandya continues

IND 13/3 (2 Overs)

1.6: Salman Ali Agha 4 (4)
Salman tries to pick this up and dump it over mid wicket, but the shape is all wrong, and mid on cannot believe the offering that has come his way.

1.2: Saim Ayub 6 (2)
In-swinging yorker, starting on middle and then swerving in. Ayub seems to fall across and then plays all around it. The bat is nowhere near the ball as it kisses the front pad first.

Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the second over

IND 0/1 (1 Over)

0.4: Sahibzada Farhan 0 (4)
Dug in short outside off and Farhan, after three dot balls, feels the pinch to get one away, and Rinku, stationed at mid on, makes no mistake.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub come out to open the innings for Pakistan, while Hardik Pandya is taking the new ball for Team India.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (1st INNINGS)

COLOMBO: Ishan Kishan’s quick-fire 77 helped India post against Pakistan in the blockbuster match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.

IND 175/7 (20 Overs)

19.6: Axar Patel 0 (1)
The bat face closes upon impact, and Axar arrows it towards deep mid wicket, where Ayub runs in and gobbles up the chance smartly.

19.5: Shivam Dube 27 (17)
There is some confusion between the batters, and the end result is that Dube has been run out.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the final over

IND 159/5 (19 Overs)

18.5: Suryakumar Yadav 32 (29)
Tossed up on a length on middle and off, SKY looks for the slog sweep but has no pace to work with. Saim Ayub pockets an easy catch!

Usman Tariq to bowl the penultimate over

IND 154/4 (18 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed returns

IND 140/4 (17 Overs)

Usman Tariq returns

IND 136/4 (16 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz continues

IND 127/4 (15 Overs)

14.3: Hardik Pandya 0 (1)
Hardik goes a mile up, and he bites the dust as the ball safely lands in the hands of Babar Azam.

14.2: Tilak Varma 25 (24)
Zipped in full on the middle stump, Tilak looks to tonk it into tomorrow via a slog sweep but misses it completely as the ball comes in with the arm.

Saim Ayub returns to the attack

IND 125/2 (14 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz continues

IND 118/2 (13 Overs)

Usman Tariq continues

IND 108/2 (12 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz continues

IND 98/2 (11 Overs)

Usman Tariq replaces Saim Ayub

IND 92/2 (10 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz comes onto the bowl

IND 89/2 (9 Overs)

8.4: Ishan Kishan 77 (40)
Kishan backs away, perhaps trying to force the ball through the offside. The ball spins appreciably, sticks in the surface, and the stumps have been rattled.

Saim Ayub returns

IND 82/1 (8 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes onto the attack

IND 65/1 (7 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed continues

IND 52/1 (6 Overs)

Saim Ayub continues

IND 41/1 (5 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed replaces Salman Ali Agha

IND 30/1 (4 Overs)

Saim Ayub replaces Shaheen Afridi in the attack

IND 25/1 (3 Overs)

Salman Ali Agha continues

IND 16/1 (2 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi comes to bowl from the other end

IND 1/1 (1 Over)

0.6: Abhishek Sharma 0 (4)
Darted in on the back of a length on middle and leg. Skids on and gets a little big on Abhishek. He has a hack at it, but all he musters is a tame chip to Shaheen.

Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan come out to open the innings for India, while skipper Salman Ali Agha is taking the new ball for the Green Shirts.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (1st INNINGS)

COLOMBO: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against arch-rivals India in the blockbuster match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed.

India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

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HEAD TO HEAD

Historically, India have held the upper hand in T20 Internationals, winning 13 of the 16 meetings between the two sides, with Pakistan claiming three victories.

Overall matches: 16, India: 12, Pakistan: 3, Tied: 1

In T20 World Cup clashes, India lead 7-1, with one match ending in a tie at the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup.

Both teams enter the contest unbeaten in the group stage. The Green Shirts have secured wins over the Netherlands and the USA, while India have defeated the USA and Namibia.

READ: T20 World Cup: India-Pakistan captains skip handshake at toss

COLOMBO: India and Pakistan captains again skipped customary handshakes at the toss of the high-octane clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Following the toss, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha avoided interaction with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.

The Indian skipper later followed a similar thing, with no visible exchange between the two captains.

Earlier, it was reported that both teams would avoid handshakes, a practice that began during the Asia Cup 2025.

Meanwhile, former Indian player Sanjay Manjrekar also slammed India’s conduct over the no handshake policy

“This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all,” he wrote on his X.

The issue first arose during the first of three clashes between Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup 2025.

India and Pakistan met three times in the continental tournament and on each occasion, they avoided the customary handshake.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed.

India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan win toss against India

COLOMBO: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against arch-rivals India in the blockbuster match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed.

India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

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HEAD TO HEAD

Historically, India have held the upper hand in T20 Internationals, winning 13 of the 16 meetings between the two sides, with Pakistan claiming three victories.

Overall matches: 16, India: 12, Pakistan: 3, Tied: 1

In T20 World Cup clashes, India lead 7-1, with one match ending in a tie at the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup.

T20 World Cup matches: 8, India: 7, Pakistan: 1, Tied: 1

Both teams enter the contest unbeaten in the group stage. Pakistan have secured wins over the Netherlands and the USA, while India have defeated the USA and Namibia, setting the stage for another high-pressure chapter in cricket’s most intense rivalry.

READ: West Indies thrash Nepal to seal Super Eight spot in T20 World Cup

BANGKOK: India cricket team recorded their first victory in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 with a convincing eight-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan at the Terdthai Cricket Ground on Sunday.

After opting to bat first, Pakistan endured a difficult outing against a disciplined Indian bowling unit and were bowled out for just 93 in 18.5 overs.

Early strikes left Pakistan under pressure as Yusra Amir fell for one to Saima Thakor, while Omaima Sohail was dismissed for one by Jintimani Kalita, reducing them to 15-2 inside the first four overs.

The middle order failed to recover from the early blows.

Eman Naseer was run out after scoring four, Hafsa Khalid managed just one before falling to Thakor, and Huraina Sajjad added only two before being removed by Radha Yadav.

Amid the collapse, Shawaal Zulfiqar offered resistance with a fighting 23 off 29 balls, including three boundaries, before Yadav struck again.

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Anosha Nasir chipped in with 17 but was run out, while Gull Rukh contributed 21 off 28 deliveries, hitting a four and a six, before falling to Prema Rawat.

Chasing a modest target, India completed the task comfortably, reaching the total in just 10.1 overs with two wickets down.

The star of the chase was Dinesh Vrinda, who produced a dominant unbeaten 55 off 29 balls, smashing 12 boundaries to seal the win.

Anushka Sharma supported with a steady 24 off 26 balls before being dismissed by Momina Riasat.

Pakistan did manage an early breakthrough when Waheeda Akhtar removed opener Humaira Kazi for a first-ball duck, but it proved only a minor setback.

Tejal Hasabnis remained unbeaten on 12 off five balls, striking a four and a six to finish the chase in style.

READ: Vinicius bags brace as Real Madrid beat Sociedad, take La Liga lead

COLOMBO: Pakistan are set to stick with a winning formula as they prepare for their blockbuster clash against arch-rivals India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 later today, with team management likely to field an unchanged playing XI.

According to reports from Colombo, the think tank has decided against tinkering with the combination that secured a convincing victory over the United States earlier this week, signalling confidence in both balance and momentum ahead of the high-pressure encounter.

The expected line-up will see captain Salman Ali Agha continue at number three, with Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub set to open the innings.

Star batter Babar Azam is slated to follow at four, while wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan is likely to anchor the middle order.

Pakistan’s combination offers depth in both departments, with Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf providing all-round strength and multiple bowling options.

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In the bowling attack, Shaheen Shah Afridi remains the primary pace spearhead, supported by mystery spinners Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, whose variations could prove crucial on Colombo conditions.

Both teams enter the contest unbeaten in the group stage, setting up another intense chapter in cricket’s fiercest rivalry.

Pakistan registered wins over the Netherlands and the USA, while India defeated the USA and Namibia to maintain their perfect start.

Historically, India have held the upper hand in T20 Internationals, winning 13 of the 16 meetings between the two sides, with Pakistan claiming three victories.

In T20 World Cup clashes, India lead 6-1, with one encounter ending in a no result.

Pakistan likely XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.

WATCH: Suryakumar Yadav mimics Usman Tariq’s action

COLOMBO: Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has expressed readiness to face mystery off-spinner Usman Tariq ahead of the high-stakes India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Ahead of the clash, Suryakumar answered a question regarding mystery bowler Usman Tariq, who has made headlines due to his unorthodox action.

“Even in the exam, if a question comes out of the syllabus, we have to do it,” he replied to the reporter.

“You can’t leave it. He’s a different character, but we can’t surrender to him. We have practiced and are all very excited,” he added while stating that they have no jetlag while travelling from India to Sri Lanka.

Tariq, inspired by former Indian captain MS Dhoni, has caught eyebrows with his unique action.

The tall off-spinner has made batters clueless with his unique bowling style.

Tariq has been in impressive form in the ongoing tournament, claiming five wickets in two matches so far.

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Overall, he has picked up 11 wickets in four T20Is, maintaining an outstanding average of 7.90 and an economy of 5.93.

During Australia’s recent T20I series tour of Pakistan, Australian batter Cameron Green was seen making a gesture that many interpreted as questioning Tariq’s action.

This was not the first time Tariq’s bowling has been scrutinised. Tariq was previously reported during PSL 9 and PSL 10, but his action was officially cleared on both occasions.

Addressing the scrutiny last year, Tariq explained that the natural bend in his elbows often creates confusion.

“There are two corners on my elbow that make it hard for me to straighten,” he said in an interview last year.

“I gave two tests at labs in Pakistan, and my action was cleared within a week. I didn’t get told to change anything. I was confident because I knew I was not throwing.”

READ: Suryakumar deflects handshake question before Pakistan clash