LAHORE: Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr. has resumed training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore after recovering from the side strain that ruled him out of Pakistan’s recent tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies.
According to PCB sources, the 23-year-old has cleared all fitness tests and is now taking part in full-fledged training sessions under the supervision of the high-performance staff.
He is also focusing on refining his bowling action, a key area identified as a contributing factor to his repeated injury concerns.
The adjustments, aimed at reducing physical strain and improving long-term durability, are being closely monitored by medical and coaching personnel at the NCA.
For the unversed, Mohammad Wasim Jr. sustained the injury during the latter stages of the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 while representing Quetta Gladiators.
Despite initial medical advice recommending a week’s rest, his recovery took longer than expected, forcing him out of the Bangladesh T20Is and the ongoing West Indies tour.
The right-arm pacer had earlier featured in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, playing two games and picking up a solitary wicket.
Despite his fitness struggles, Wasim delivered a solid PSL 10 campaign, finishing with 10 wickets in eight matches at an average of 20.80 and a tidy economy rate of 7.38, playing a crucial role in Quetta’s journey to the final.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday issued a statement regarding ace pacer Shaheen Afridi amid the West Indies tour.
The PCB addressed the reports attributed to pacer Shaheen Afridi’s rift with captain Salman Agha and deemed it “baseless, fabricated, and defamatory”.
“The PCB affirms that no such incident has occurred at any point during training or practice sessions.
These malicious rumours are entirely fictitious and appear to have been deliberately concocted with clear malafide intent to sow discord within the national squad,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
The cricket board termed the rumours an attempt to undermine the cohesion, morale, and reputation of the Pakistan national team.
According to the PCB, the rumours about a dispute between Shaheen Afridi and Salman Agha were aimed at damaging the professional integrity of the players and the team.
“The PCB will be initiating stringent legal proceedings, including but not limited to defamation and cybercrime charges, against the individuals and/or entities responsible for originating and disseminating this false narrative,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
“The PCB remains committed to protecting its players, staff, and the sanctity of the national team from unwarranted and harmful speculation,” it concluded.
It is worth noting here that Shaheen Afridi is part of Pakistan’s squad for the T20I and ODI series against the West Indies.
The T20I series is scheduled to begin on August 1 with the first game at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Florida.
The national side will then face the hosts on August 3 in the second game at the same venue, while the final game is scheduled for August 4.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Tuesday, introduced a three-tier departmental structure for the 2025-26 domestic season.
The new system, set to run from August 2025 to May 2026, features more than 40 departments split across three divisions: Grade I, Grade II, and the newly introduced Grade III, a first in the structure’s history.
Aimed at adding competitiveness and clarity to progression, the reformed model includes promotion and relegation between all three tiers.
The season will span first-class, List A, three-day, and two-day formats, offering players varied exposure across formats.
Grade-III will see two-day matches scheduled in March-April 2026. Teams were slotted into this division based on their performances in the 2024-25 President’s Trophy Grade-II.
The top two Grade-III teams will earn promotion, while the bottom two from Grade-II will be relegated in the next domestic season.
The Grade-II circuit, featuring 14 teams, including 12 top performers from last season and two relegated from Grade-I, will compete in three-day matches from March to May 2026.
President’s Trophy Grade-II Teams: Ahmed Glass, Ghani Institute, JDW Sugar Mills, Kingsmen, MIT Solutions, PAF, PHA Rawalpindi, Port Qasim, Railways, Sardar Group, Vital Tea, Wing 999 Sports, along with HEC and Eshaal Associates.
The Grade-I departments will kick off the season with the 50-over President’s Cup in November–December, followed by the first-class President’s Trophy. The same eight teams will feature in both events.
While the President’s Cup will consist of 31 List A matches, the President’s Trophy will feature 29 red-ball fixtures and wrap up in January 2026.
Bottom two teams from Grade I will be demoted, with Grade II’s best two earning promotion for the next season, ensuring constant competition and mobility.
The PCB also confirmed plans for a standalone 50-over competition for Grade-II sides next year’s domestic season, further broadening the domestic calendar.
Additionally, the board is encouraging departments to form women’s teams as part of its initiative to strengthen the women’s cricketing ecosystem, with further details expected soon.
PCB’s Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, hailed the development as a long-term investment in Pakistan’s cricketing future.
“Departmental cricket has become the backbone of our domestic season for the third consecutive year. This three-tier model incentivises performance, ensures competitiveness, and provides over 400 players the opportunity to represent their institutions on a national stage.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, lauded the Pakistan Hockey team for reaching the U-18 Hockey Asia Cup final on Friday.
Pakistan continued their unbeaten run in the tournament, emerging victorious in a narrowly contested semi-final. During the regular time, neither team could score a goal despite multiple attempts.
The outcome of the high-stakes encounter was decided on shootouts, where Green Shirts netted four goals and missed one. In contrast, Malaysia managed only three goals while missing two crucial chances to advance in the final.
This was Pakistan’s fifth consecutive win in the tournament, having previously defeated Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong dominantly.
Pakistan will now face Japan in the final of the U-18 Hockey Asia Cup, set to be played on Sunday.
Mohsin Naqvi praised the hockey team for their unity and coordination in the semi-final.
“Pakistan Under-18 hockey team reached the final after demonstrating excellent play, said the board chairman. “The players demonstrated exceptional teamwork and coordination,” he noted.
Mohsin Naqvi also congratulated the team captain, coaches, and management on the achievement, expressing hope that Pakistan would come home with the winning trophy.
“The players have showcased remarkable performances throughout the tournament. I am confident that the U18 team will bring home the Asia Cup title,” he concluded.
Pakistan Hockey Squad for U-18 Asia Cup
Mohammad Usman, Atif Ali, Asam Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah Farooq, Abdullah Awan, Zubair Lateef, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Ali Taj, Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Hamza, Ali Hamzad, Aamir Sohail, Adeel Afzal, Mohammad Zaman, Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Shaheer, Hasan Shahbaz, Yaseen Jamshaid
Team management
Shafqat Malik (manager): Mukhtar Ahmed, Touseeq Ahmed, Masood-ur-Rahman (coaches)
KARACHI: Pakistan women cricketers’ 27-day fitness and skills camp kicked off ahead of a packed international calendar here at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre on Tuesday.
The camp is currently underway under the supervision of Head Coach Mohammad Wasim, with 24 women cricketers participating.
The training camp is designed to enhance players’ skills through various drills. The women cricketers also practiced their fielding in a three-hour camp.
During the camp, coaches provided players with tips on improving their skills and fitness. In the evening session, the women cricketers will engage in net practice.
For context, the camp, which features 24 players, is designed to fine-tune both technical skills and physical conditioning as the squad prepares for a crucial stretch of international commitments, including a T20I tour to Ireland and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Pakistan women team is scheduled to fly to Ireland on August 3, where they’ll face the hosts in a three-match T20I series at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. The fixtures are set for August 7, 10, and 11.
But the real spotlight will fall in October when the Green Shirts begin their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign, a tournament jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Due to the ‘fusion formula’ agreement between the PCB and BCCI, which rules out bilateral visits for ICC events until 2026, Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo.
Pakistan women’s team opens their World Cup journey on October 2 against Bangladesh, followed by the much-anticipated clash with India on October 5.
The group stage continues with high-stakes fixtures against Australia (Oct 8), England (Oct 15), New Zealand (Oct 18), South Africa (Oct 21), and hosts Sri Lanka (Oct 24), all at the R Premadasa Stadium.
If Pakistan qualify for the knockouts, their semi-final will also be played in Colombo. The final is slated for November 2 in Bengaluru, unless Pakistan make it, in which case the showpiece will shift to Colombo, in accordance with the neutral venue policy.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, on Monday, explained the key decisions regarding the restructuring of domestic cricket in Pakistan.
While addressing the media in the Provincial capital, Abdullah Niazi revealed that a 15-member committee was formed to reform domestic cricket.
“A committee was formed in which 15 members decided, with consultation, to reform the previous domestic structure,” he said.
“Regional representatives were part of the reform committee, and it was unanimously decided that top-performing teams from last season will play in the main round,” he added.
Abdullah Khurram Niazi also shed light on the new format, noting the importance of top-performing regions.
“Some regions need to improve their standards, so we’ve devised a format where top-performing regions will directly feature in the main round. Underperforming ones will go through qualifying rounds, and the top two teams from the qualifiers will advance,” the PCB cricket operations director explained.
The Director said that under-19 level competitions, including three-day matches, will be organized regularly, while clarifying that no new tournaments have been introduced.
“Our upcoming structure revolves around regional cricket. These are not new tournaments — they’ve been played in the past.”
Khurram Niazi also stressed inclusivity while announcing the criteria for central contracts in domestic cricket.
“Central contracts in domestic cricket will be awarded based on performance in the previous season. We cannot ignore any region. The best players from all regions will be promoted. This isn’t about any single province’s pride — it’s about Pakistan.”
Speaking on merit-based selection, he noted, “In our culture, favoritism is often alleged. To counter that perception, we’ve improved the selection process significantly.”
While speaking on the Champions Cup, he stated that Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, and Saqlain Mushtaq had to step back due to personal commitments.
“Some mentors did not want to continue their roles, though a few are still contributing. It is the result of mentors’ hard work that talent like Khawaja Nafay and Hasan Nawaz is nurtured.
He added that work is underway on strengthening cricket academies. “This was something our cricket ecosystem truly needed.”
The PCB Director of Domestic Cricket also discussed the financial and technical challenges of streaming domestic matches, while urging local sponsors to invest.
“Live streaming of domestic matches is under consideration, but the cost is significant — nearly three to four million rupees per day. It’s not easy.
Every country builds on its strengths, and we are striving to do the same. No director can influence player selection, and the PCB has made its selection criteria more transparent and performance-oriented,” he concluded.
For context, a day earlier, PCB announced a significantly revised domestic calendar for the 2025-26 season.
Among the notable changes was the participation of eight regional sides, compared to 18 from the previous year, in the forthcoming Pakistan’s premier domestic tournament, the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Domestic Cricket Revamping Committee met this week to deliberate over a series of proposed changes to the domestic structure ahead of the new season, sources confirmed.
The session was marked by comprehensive discussions about possible modifications to the formats of Pakistan’s premier tournaments, specifically the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the esteemed Hanif Mohammad Trophy.
Stakeholders delved into various ideas and proposals aimed at enhancing the structure and appeal of these competitions.
Participants exchanged insights on how these changes could elevate the standard of domestic cricket in the country.
A formal announcement detailing the revamped domestic structure is anticipated in the near future.
As per sources, one of the major outcomes of the meeting was the finalization of qualification criteria for two additional teams in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The committee has proposed that the 12 remaining regional sides compete in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, with the top two teams qualifying for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy alongside the six automatic entrants.
Before delving into the structural discussions, the committee undertook an in-depth examination of the performance of the domestic coaching staff.
Insider sources suggest that several domestic coaches, who have not met performance expectations during their tenures, could face non-renewal of their contracts for the upcoming season.
As a result, the board is preparing to open new coaching positions soon, awaiting the final approval from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to appoint renowned Australian fielding specialist Shane McDermott as an all-format fielding coach, Telecom Asia Sport reported.
According to the report, an official announcement of the decision is expected soon.
The decision came after the departure of Mohammad Masroor as head coach of the national team. He was appointed on a series-to-series basis in October 2024.
Mohammad Masroor confirmed the decision via a social media post, expressing gratitude for his time with the Pakistan team.
“Thank you to the players who trusted, the staff who supported, and the fans who believed. Behind every catch taken, every game won was a group of men who believed,” he wrote.
Now, McDermott, who has extensive experience, is set to hold the position. His past experience includes coaching teams such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cricket Australia, the Western Australia Cricket Association, and Cricket Tasmania.
Previously, Shane McDermott served as Assistant Fielding Coach with the Bangladesh team between 2022 and 2023. Before that, the 44-year-old spent three years as the fielding coach of Sri Lanka’s team and also coached the Sri Lanka A side during his tenure.
At the start of his career, he held various positions at Cricket Australia. The roles included interim Assistant Fielding Coach and interim National A Team Analyst and Fielding Coach.
For context, Pakistan is set to play crucial matches in the forthcoming months, starting with the series against Bangladesh. The Green Shirts will play three matches against the Tigers, followed by a T20I series against West Indies in the Caribbean.
After that, Pakistan will feature in the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be played in September and hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approved a budget estimate of Rs 18.3 billion for the financial year 2025-26 during its 78th Board of Governors (BoG) meeting held on Thursday here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The 78th BoG meeting was chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
During the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the estimated budget of Rs18.3 billion for the financial year 2025–26. The members also expressed satisfaction over the utilization of the 2024–25 budget and formally ratified the decisions taken in the previous board meeting.
In a bid to promote cricket at the grassroots level, the Board decided to annually reward the best-performing region. Additionally, it was resolved that staff performance will be regularly monitored.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Javed Murtaza briefed the members on the key features of the new budget.
Among those in attendance were PCB BoG members Zaheer Abbas, Sajjad Ali Khokhar, Zafarullah, Tariq Sarwar, and PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sameer Ahmed.
Additionally, PSL CEO Salman Naseer, Director Media and Communications Aamer Mir, Director Domestic Cricket Abdullah Khurram Niazi, and Head of Women’s Cricket Rafia Haider also participated in the meeting.
Other members including Anwar Ghani, Mustafa Ramday, Daniyal Gilani, Anwar Ahmed Khan, Dr. Shafi-ur-Rehman, and Director International Cricket Usman Wahla attended the meeting via video link.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) stakeholders praised the marquee league’s progress over the past decade in a post-meeting feedback with the management.
A day earlier, PSL management shared insights and data on the league’s growth over the years.
The meeting was headed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in which representatives of franchises, the title sponsor, media rights partners, and commercial partners participated.
“Ali Imran, Rao Umar Hashim Khan, and Ayaz Imam from Walee Technologies, Trans Group, and A Sports, respectively, took part in the stakeholders meeting and shared their views with the PCB Digital,” the PCB stated in a statement.
The Senior Vice President of A Sports, Ayaz Imam, referred to the marquee league as the biggest tournament in Pakistan.
“HBL PSL is the biggest tournament in Pakistan at the moment, and thanks to the Almighty, the success in 10 years has been tremendous, and I feel it will keep on excelling in the future. As the broadcaster of this tournament, we take pride. Our ratings go higher and higher every time the PSL comes around,” he said.
Ali Imran, Senior Vice President of Walee Technologies, also hailed the record-breaking PSL X, emphasizing the streaming records.
“I think HBL PSL X was just amazing. Walee partnered with biggest live-streaming and digital platforms in Pakistan including Begin, Daraz, Myco, Tamasha and Tapmad. This is the first time 57.4 million fans from Pakistan streamed the PSL matches and there were over 3.4 billionm views across these platforms.
“The way the PSL team works is amazing and they have been a great support for Walee Technologies in bringing the HBL PSL closer to the fans. I urge the fans to get ready to witness the biggest PSL event next year as we plan to bring more digital innovations to fore,” he said.
Rao Umar Hashim Khan, Group Director, Trans Group, extended his best wishes for the tournament’s future success.
“Being the pioneer partner, I have the best wishes for the HBL PSL and I feel it is going to become the biggest cricketing event in the world. PSL is growing every season and we are hopeful that we’ll showcase lots of good cricket in times to come, ” he said.
“It has been an honour for Trans Group to be part of the HBL PSL for the entirety of the 10 seasons. It is such a joy to be a part of the PSL and everywhere we go it feels amazing to represent Pakistan’s mega event,” Hashim Khan added.”
The Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of HBL, Ali Habib, highlighted the tournament’s progress and hailed it as the nation’s biggest sporting event.
“Everyone should reflect on the remarkable consistency of the HBL PSL for the last 10 years. At the start of every year the fans get excited about a new HBL PSL season, which in turn has made it as one of the biggest sporting brands.
“We should all pat our back for this wonderful achievement. Over the last 10 years we have shown to the world that we have the capacity, capability and organizational skills to pull off a vast six-week tournament across Pakistan involving over 60 overseas players,” he concluded.
For the unversed, the inaugural season of Pakistan’s first franchise-based league, PSL, kicked off in 2016 with a glitzy opening ceremony held at the Dubai Sports City Stadium.
Initially, five teams participated in the tournament: Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Lahore Qalandars, and Karachi Kings. However, in 2018, another team, Multan Sultans, was added to the competition, making the league a six-team tournament.
The 10th edition of the tournament, named PSL X, ran from April 11 to May 25 and featured a total of 34 matches, marking the most successful edition in the tournament’s history.
