Tag: PCB

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday that Director of Media and Communications Sami Ul Hasan has stepped down from his role.

Hasan rejoined PCB in March 2019 after spending 13 years with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai, where his last assignment was Head of Media and Communications.

He also served as PCB’s General Manager – Media from 2002 to 2004, following a 14-year career as a cricket correspondent for the Dawn newspaper.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmad Syed lauded Sami’s contributions as an important board member and highlighted his vast experience.

“Sami has been an important member of the PCB’s executive team, bringing vast experience and expertise to the organisation, ” he said.

“His contributions in shaping modern communication strategies, strengthening media relations and elevating the digital landscape have been invaluable.”

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Sumair Ahmed thanked Sami for his services, stating that Sami’s leadership was pivotal in enhancing PCB’s engagement with various stakeholders.

“Under his leadership, the Media, Communications and Digital department has played a key role in significantly enhancing the PCB’s engagement with stakeholders – both locally and globally – most notably in the lead up to and during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. ”

“On behalf of the PCB, I extend our gratitude to Sami for his dedication and professionalism and wish him success in his future endeavors, ” he said.

Sami Ul Hasan expressed gratitude for his time with the PCB, highlighting the growth of the Media, Communications and Digital team as a key achievement.

” It has been a privilege to serve the PCB for the second time and contribute to its growth during a transformative period. I step away with immense satisfaction, knowing that the Media, Communications and Digital team has evolved into one of the most respected and highly professional departments, ” he remarked.

“Seeing the department and its talented individuals flourish has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my time here, ” added Sami Ul Hasan.

“As I step into the next chapter of my career, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to senior leaders and colleagues for their support, collaboration and trust. A special thanks to the media fraternity for their cooperation and support – I look forward to crossing paths again in the future!” he concluded.

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the decision to slash match fees for domestic cricketers participating in the upcoming National T20 Cup 2025.

A PCB spokesperson confirmed that Naqvi has directed officials to ensure that players’ earnings remain unaffected. He instructed the Director of Domestic Cricket, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, to take immediate action to prevent any reduction in payments.

Mohsin Naqvi has also ordered a comprehensive review of match fees for all players in the National T20 Cup, reinforcing his stance that no cuts should be made.

It’s worth noting that the National T20 Cup 2025 is set to take place from March 15 to March 27, featuring 18 teams representing 16 regions. A total of 39 matches will be played across three host cities: Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan.

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The 18 teams are divided into four groups: Karachi Region (Blues), Lahore Region (Whites), Larkana Region, Peshawar Region, and Quetta Region, all placed in Group A.

In Group B, defending champions Karachi Region (Whites) are placed alongside Bahawalpur Region, Dera Murad Jamali Region, Islamabad Region and Lahore Region (Blues).

In Group C, Abbottabad Region, Faisalabad Region, Hyderabad Region, and Rawalpindi Region will go head-to-head, while Group D will see AJK Region, FATA Region, Multan Region, and Sialkot Region play each other.

The tournament will kick off with a double-header in Faisalabad, where Karachi Region (Whites) will take on Islamabad Region at 7 PM, followed by the second match at 11 PM.

In Lahore and Multan, the first fixture of the day is scheduled for 4:30 PM, while the second match will begin at 9 PM.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials during the Champions Trophy 2025 final ceremony, which took place here on Sunday.

An ICC spokesperson explained that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was the official representative of the host board, had been invited to attend the ceremony but was unable to attend.

“Mr. Naqvi was unavailable and did not travel to Dubai for the final,” the spokesperson stated.

The apex cricketing body further emphasized its long-standing protocol regarding such events while responding to the criticism about the lack of Pakistani representation on stage.

The spokesperson outlined that, according to ICC procedures, only the head of the host board—whether it be the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO—is invited to be part of the awards ceremony.

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Other board officials, even if they are present at the venue, are not included in the stage proceedings.

The absence of PCB officials on stage was therefore due to the fact that the board’s designated representative did not attend, with the protocol being followed as per the ICC’s established practices.

However, sources within the PCB have revealed that the board plans to raise the matter with the ICC.

The PCB intends to formally inquire why its CEO, Sumair Ahmad Syed, who was present in Dubai as the director of the Champions Trophy 2025, was not invited to the ceremony.

“It is concerning that Pakistan was not given representation at the closing ceremony despite the presence of a key PCB official in Dubai,” a source close to the PCB said.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi hails collective efforts behind successful hosting of Champions Trophy

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, outlined the process for issuing refunds for tickets purchased for two ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 matches that were canceled without any play at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

A total of three matches in the current tournament were unable to conclude because of rain in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Ticket refunds have been issued for two of these matches: Australia vs. South Africa on 25 February and Bangladesh vs. Pakistan on 27 February.

Following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) policy, tickets for the match between Afghanistan and Australia will not be refunded. Refunds will only be provided if there is no toss.

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Furthermore, Champions Trophy tickets for the hospitality boxes and the PCB gallery are also non-refundable.

Eligible ticket holders can claim their refunds at 10 designated outlets of a private courier company between 10 March and 14 March.

For the unversed, the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy is on the verge of concluding, with India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia securing all four semi-final spots.

However, the specific match-ups for the knockout phase remain undetermined, as they rely on the result of the final group-stage game between India and New Zealand, which is set to occur at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

After the group stage wraps up, the top team from Group A will compete against the second-ranked team from Group B, while the top team of Group B will take on the second-ranked team from Group A.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) reported decision to rest senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Following Pakistan’s disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, reports surfaced suggesting that the PCB was considering giving key players a break for the white-ball series, which is set to run from March 16 to April 5, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs.

However, Basit Ali isn’t buying the narrative of “resting” players. Speaking on ARY News’ show Har Lamha Purjosh, he called the move a farce, claiming that senior players would eventually return once the younger replacements failed to deliver in New Zealand.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

“It will be said that Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi faced injustice in selection,” Basit remarked.

Instead of resting them, the former cricketer believes that the PCB should be upfront about their intentions and inform Babar, Shaheen, and Rizwan that they are no longer part of the T20I setup.

“You should tell them that we will not consider you for the T20I team,” he added.

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Pakistan’s senior players have been under fire ever since their shocking group-stage exit from the Champions Trophy 2025.

Consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India left them at the bottom of Group A with just one point, as their final match against Bangladesh was washed out in Rawalpindi.

READ: Australia hit by injury setback ahead of Champions Trophy semi-final

LAHORE: Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has hinted at possible changes in the national team’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan announced their squad for the upcoming tri-nation series and the Champions Trophy on January 31. But the squad announcement was met with criticism from fans and former cricketers.

Naqvi, while speaking to journalists here on Friday, stated that the selection committee is actively reviewing the team.

However, he also clarified that he does not interfere in selection matters and the final authority lies with the selection committee, which will decide whether to make any adjustments to the squad.

“We have included Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf in the squad with good intentions,” Mohsin Naqvi said, addressing concerns over their selection. However, his remarks suggest that no player’s spot is guaranteed, and further discussions are ongoing.

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Earlier today, Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan defended the national team’s squad selected for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

“The team selected for the Champions Trophy consists of the best available players, and the key to good performance is mental fitness,” said Younis.

“Team selection is done based on performance, and once the squad is chosen, the players should be fully supported. Criticism and unnecessary changes only create pressure on the players.”

The former captain expressed faith that this squad has the ability to make it into the semi-finals of the mega-event.

“The players have the talent to make it to the top four teams of the Champions Trophy,” he added.

Pakistan Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (wk)(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Haris Rauf.

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LAHORE: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub is progressing well in his recovery from a right ankle injury and will continue his rehabilitation in England, the country’s cricket board revealed on Friday.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Saim has been ruled out for 10 weeks from the date of injury (3 January) following comprehensive MRI scans, X-rays, and medical assessments.

For the unversed, Saim suffered a right ankle fracture while fielding on the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in early January.

The incident occurred in the seventh over of South Africa’s first innings when Ryan Rickelton played a fuller-length delivery from Mohammad Abbas past the slip cordon into the deep third-wicket region.

Saim, quick on his feet, dashed in to act as the relay fielder, as Aamir Jamal valiantly attempted to haul the ball back from the boundary at deep third-man.

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However, in a heartbreaking moment, Saim Ayub lost his balance and stumbled backwards, struggling to regain his footing.

He was attended to by medical staff on the field, but his painful grimaces made it evident that he was in significant distress. Ultimately, he was carried off the field after he struggled to stand on his feet.

The PCB also shared that the young opener’s availability for the New Zealand tour will be subject to clearing all fitness tests and medical requirements.

Pakistan will tour New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs from 16 March to 5 April, which will be followed by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10, which starts on 8 April.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, unveiled the ticket prices for the upcoming tri-nation ODI series involving the hosts along with New Zealand and South Africa.

The online tickets will be available here from 4:00 PM on Tuesday, 4 February, while physical tickets will also be available at eight Express Centres of TCS from Tuesday. Up to 10 tickets can be purchased on one ID card.

To facilitate fans for the tri-nation series, which is set to be played from 8-14 February in Lahore and Karachi as the newly upgraded Gaddafi Stadium (GSL) and National Bank Stadium (NBS) are set to welcome back international cricket, the tickets will be available at affordable pricing at PKR 350.

The weekend matches (Pakistan v New Zealand, 8 February at GSL) and (the final, 14 February at NBS) will be available from PKR 500.

To encourage maximum fans to enjoy their favourite players in action at the GSL and NBS before the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, the maximum ticket pricing for newly constructed enclosures in Lahore – Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas (VVIP enclosures) at the Jinnah End will be available to fans at PKR 5,000 for Saturday’s fixture, while Monday’s fixture for fans will be available at PKR 4,000.

For Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram (VVIP enclosures) at the Iqbal End, the fans can witness Saturday’s match for PKR 3,500, while tickets for Monday’s encounter will cost PKR 2,500.

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The VIP enclosures (Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan) will be available to fans at PKR 2,000 for Saturday’s fixture, while on Monday, the fans can enjoy the action from the same enclosures at PKR 1,500.

The premium enclosures (Rajas and Saeed Anwar) will be available to fans at PKR 1,500 for the opening match of the tri-series on Saturday, while Monday’s fixture will cost fans tickets available at PKR 1,000.

The general enclosures (Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Ahmed) at the Gaddafi Stadium will be available to fans at PKR 350 (Monday’s fixture) and PKR 500 (Saturday’s fixture).

Moreover, first-class enclosures (Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Abdul Qadir, Javed Miandad and Sarfaraz Nawaz) will be available to fans at PKR 1,000 (Monday’s fixture) and PKR 1,500 (Saturday’s fixture).

In Lahore, the fans can also witness action from Gallery (hospitality) boxes at PKR 6,000 for Saturday’s fixture and PKR 5,000 for Monday’s fixture.

For Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, the general enclosures (Asif Iqbal, Nazar Mohammad, Waqar Hasan and Younis Khan) tickets will be available to fans at PKR 350 for Wednesday’s fixture, while for the tri-series final on Friday the tickets will be available to fans at PKR 500.

For first-class enclosures (Imran Khan, Intikhab Alam, Wasim Akram, Wasim Bari and Shahid Afridi) entry tickets will be available for sale for Wednesday’s fixture at PKR 750, while the final on Friday will be available at PKR 1,000.

Additionally, premium enclosures (Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Brothers, Naseem ul Ghani) will be accessible to fans at PKR 1,000 for Wednesday’s fixture while tickets for Friday’s fixture will be available at PKR 1,500.

VIP enclosures (Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad) tickets will be worth PKR 1,500 for Wednesday’s fixture, while it will cost PKR 2,000 for the final scheduled on Friday.

The VVIP enclosures (Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas) located at the University End, will be available to fans at PKR 4,000 for Wednesday’s fixture, while fans can buy tickets at PKR 5,000 for Friday’s final match.

The Gallery seats will be available to fans at PKR 5,000 for Wednesday’s fixture, while Friday’s fixture will be available to fans at PKR 6,000.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly finalised the schedule for the opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ensuring a grand launch for the prestigious tournament.

According to reliable sources, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has given final approval for all planned events, with high-profile dignitaries expected to attend.

The first major event will take place on February 7 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to be the chief guest.

The celebrations will then move to the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, on February 11, with President Asif Ali Zardari expected to attend.

The main Champions Trophy opening ceremony is scheduled for February 16 at Hazoori Bagh, Lahore, where top government officials, legendary cricketers, and ICC representatives will be present.

It’s worth noting that the England cricket team is set to arrive in Pakistan on February 18, followed by Australia on February 19.

Due to their delayed arrival, the official photoshoot has been cancelled, and the joint press conference of all captains will no longer take place.

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However, sources confirm that all captains will be required to attend individual pre-match press conferences ahead of their respective matches.

It’s worth noting that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host Champions Trophy 2025 matches. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai.

Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days. The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed to represent Pakistan Champions in WCL Season 2

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced the schedule for the upcoming tri-nation ODI series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa.

The series will be played on a single-league basis from 8 to 14 February, with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium hosting the opening two matches and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium staging the final league match and the final.

Pakistan and New Zealand will kick off the tri-nation ODI series at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, 8 February, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 14:00 (local time).

New Zealand will then face South Africa on Monday, 10 February, in a day match with the toss set for 09:00 (local time).

The action will shift to Karachi, where Pakistan will take on South Africa on 12 February in a day/night match at the National Bank Stadium, starting at 14:00 (local time).

The final will be played on Friday, 14 February, with the first ball to be bowled at 14:00 (local time).

Both Pakistan and New Zealand are scheduled to train at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, 6 February, under lights, while South Africa’s first outing at the historic venue will be on the morning of Sunday, 9 February.

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While the four matches at Gaddafi Stadium and National Bank Stadium will provide the three sides with an excellent opportunity to finalise preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it will also be a perfect occasion for the PCB to showcase its redesigned and redeveloped venues to the world through its world-class broadcast.

At the Gaddafi Stadium, the spectator capacity has been increased, with new chairs installed throughout the venue.

Additionally, 480 state-of-the-art LED lights have been installed to enhance broadcast LUX levels, ensuring a superior viewing experience for fans worldwide. To further elevate the spectator experience, two giant digital replay screens – measuring 80 feet x 30 feet and 22 feet x 35 feet – have been installed.

A brand-new hospitality enclosure for players and officials is near completion, ensuring that the iconic stadium is fully operational to deliver an unparalleled experience for all stakeholders.

At the National Bank Stadium, significant enhancements have been made, including the creation of a new hospitality enclosure for players and officials at the University End. To improve broadcast coverage, 350 LED lights have been installed, ensuring optimal visibility for global audiences.

Two digital replay screens have already been fixed and 5,000 new chairs have been installed to enhance spectator comfort.

Schedule of Tri-series (Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa)

8 February 2025, Pakistan vs New Zealand (14:00)

10 February 2025, South Africa vs New Zealand (09:30)

12 February 2025, South Africa vs Pakistan (14:00)

14 February 2025, Final (14:00)

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