Tag: UAE Tri-series

SHARJAH: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha’s reaction went viral on social media after Afghanistan were touted as Asia’s second-best team ahead of the opening match of the triangular series.

The incident happened during a joint press conference by the captains of the tri-series participating teams.

During the question-and-answer session, the Afghanistan captain was asked by the reporter about their plans for the upcoming fixtures while praising them as the second-best team in Asia on the back of their strong showing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

However, the reporter’s question took Salman Ali Agha by surprise, which was visible from his facial expressions.

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Following the press conference, Agha reaction went viral with fans sharing their thoughts on social media.

For context, Pakistan will play Afghanistan in the tri-series opener tomorrow at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The T20I series will be played from August 29 to September 7 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

This series will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.

Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

• 29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 7 September – Final – 7pm local time

READ: Pakistan team moving in right direction, says Salman Ali Agha ahead of tri-series opener

SHARJAH: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha remained optimistic of the national team’s chances for the best outcome in the tri-series featuring hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan.

Agha shared his thoughts on the team’s preparations during a joint press conference alongside the captains of the UAE and Afghanistan.

“Our team has performed well in the last couple of series. When we go out to play, we think of winning the game,” he said.

“Former cricketers and fans have their own opinions about us, and it’s good to have opinions. A new team is being formed, and we will play good cricket,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of leadership and weather conditions in Sharjah.

“It is always an honor and a responsibility to be a captain of a team. There is no problem with the hot weather in Sharjah.

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“As a player, this cannot be an excuse. Our performance is improving with each passing day. The national team is currently moving in the right direction,” he concluded.

For context, Pakistan will play Afghanistan in the tri-series opener tomorrow at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The T20I series will be played from 29 August to 7 September at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

This series will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.

Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

• 29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 7 September – Final – 7pm local time

READ: Trophy for Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE T20I tri-series revealed

SHARJAH: The trophy for the T20I tri-series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was unveiled here on Thursday.

The trophy unveiling ceremony took place at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium and was attended by Salman Ali Agha, the captain of Pakistan, along with Rashid Khan from Afghanistan and Muhammad Waseem from the UAE.

The T20I series will be played from 29 August to 7 September at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

This series will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.

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It’s worth noting that initially, Pakistan were slated to host Afghanistan in a bilateral series in August.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) floated the idea of turning the contest into a tri-nation event and shifting it to the UAE, a move aimed at helping players adapt to the conditions ahead of the Asia Cup.

The opening match of the tri-series tournament will be played between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday, 29 August, with the first ball to be bowled at 7:00 pm local time.

Each team will play the others twice, giving all sides at least four matches before the top two teams qualify for the final, scheduled on 7 September.

Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

• 29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 7 September – Final – 7pm local time

READ: Hasan Nawaz sets sights on India clash in Asia Cup 2025

KABUL: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named a 17-member squad on Wednesday for the forthcoming triangular series against Pakistan and hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The series is slated to be contested in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.

The ace all-rounder Rashid Khan will lead the side ahead of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 with only one change from their squad for the marquee event.

Pacer Naveen ul Haq has been replaced with uncapped pacer Abdullah Ahmadzai. Fazalhaq Farooqi will lead the pace attack comprising Farid Malik and Karim Janat.

Meanwhile, the formidable spin department will be led by Rashid Khan, with the likes of experienced Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, alongside the young talents of Noor Ahmad and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar.

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Notably, mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar will be in line to make his debut in the series.

The batting lineup will be bolstered by batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, with Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq, and Sediqullah Atal.

For the uninitiated, Afghanistan will kick off their tri-series campaign against Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament on Friday, August 29, before taking on the hosts, the UAE, on September 1.

Afghanistan squad for UAE tri-series

Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Schedule for T20I Tri-Series in UAE

29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7 pm local time
5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
7 September – Final – 7 pm local time

READ: Babar, Rizwan not suited for T20 cricket, says former Pakistan coach

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have unveiled a 15-member squad, led by skipper Muhammad Waseem, for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Sharjah featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The series, running from August 29 to September 7, will act as a tune-up for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, which kicks off in the UAE on September 9.

Compared to their previous campaign in Uganda’s Pearl of Africa Cup, where they fell short in the final against the hosts, the UAE have expanded their squad from 14 to 15 players.

Four fresh faces, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, and Muhammad Jawadullah, have been drafted in, while Akif Raja, Matiullah Khan, and Zuhaib Zubair miss out this time.

The nucleus of the side remains unchanged, with the experienced Waseem supported by Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, and Rahul Chopra.

Rising talents such as Muhammad Zohaib, the UAE’s standout batter in Uganda, and all-rounder Saghir Khan also retain their places.

Former India opener Lalchand Rajput will continue as head coach.

The UAE will begin their campaign against Pakistan on August 30, before facing Afghanistan on September 1, Pakistan again on September 4, and Afghanistan on September 5.

The final is set for September 7, just two days before the Asia Cup gets underway, where the UAE will share a group with India, Oman, and Pakistan.

It’s worth noting that the squad for the ACC Asia Cup 2025 will be announced separately.

UAE squad for T20I tri-series

Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Saghir Khan.

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DUBAI: Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz on Monday shared his thoughts on Pakistan’s preparations ahead of the tri-series and the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025.

Hasan Nawaz, alongside mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, candidly commented on the team’s preparation following the video released on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) social media handle.

The right-handed batter played a crucial role in taking Agha XI over the line against Saim XI in the intra-squad practice match held here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Hasan Nawaz, alongside mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, candidly commented on the team’s preparation following the video released on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) social media handle.

During the conversation, both players shed light on the outcome of the practice match, with Abrar praising Nawaz and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris for their knocks.

In reply, Nawaz highlighted the performances of Abrar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman.

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“In the match, the catch you took and the way you bowled were outstanding, and we restricted them to a low total,” Nawaz told Abrar.

“The players are in [good] form, Fakhar played very well. So, by the will of Almighty Allah, everyone’s and my strive is to continue this form for the tri-series and Asia Cup,” he remarked.

For context, Pakistan is set to play Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the tri-series, taking place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from August 29 to September 7.

Following the series, the eight-team ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will commence from September 9 in the UAE.

The continental tournament is set to take place across two venues, Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, in the UAE from September 9 to 28.

Pakistan will play their opening match on September 12 against Oman before squaring off against India in the much-anticipated encounter, scheduled for September 14.

Pakistan Squad for Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025 

Pakistan: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

READ: Final squads announced for ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025

DUBAI: Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman trained with the national squad here at the ICC Academy ahead of the tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, which is set to begin on August 29.

Two days earlier, the first group of Pakistan’s T20 squad arrived here to take part in a pre-series training camp ahead of the upcoming Tri-Nation Series and the Asia Cup 2025.

The national side training camp at the ICC Academy will continue until August 27. The sessions are designed to prepare the team for consecutive international assignments in the UAE.

Fakhar, who was ruled out of the West Indies series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the second T20I in Florida,  has now resumed training with the squad.

Following his injury, Fakhar Zaman was immediately treated by the team’s physio and has since been sidelined from all cricketing activity.

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As a result, he did not feature in the remaining matches of the West Indies tour. Due to the injury, his place was also in doubt for the Asia Cup 2025 and tri-series, however, he was added to the squad.

For the unversed, the Tri-Nation Series, featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE, will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from August 29 to September 7.

Pakistan will open its campaign against Afghanistan, with each team playing the others twice, and the top two teams will qualify for the final on September 7.

Following the series, Pakistan will turn its focus to the 2025 Asia Cup, which kicks off on September 9 with the opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

READ: CSA unveils venues as South Africa set to host 44 matches at 2027 World Cup

KARACHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq on Sunday shared his views on the national team squad selection for the upcoming Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

Razzaq lauded the team selection, praising the emerging players for their strong performances.

“Over the last three to four months, teams have been picked on merit, and players who perform are getting their chances,” Abdul Razzaq said.

He mentioned the inclusion of new players and called the UAE a favourable place for the Pakistan team.

“The selectors have chosen the best team, and the inclusion of youngsters is a very positive sign. This squad has the potential to perform well in the UAE. I believe Pakistan can not only win the tri-nation event but also triumph in the Asia Cup,” Razzaq added.

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“The team looks motivated and united. Our good wishes are always with them, and it’s clear everyone is focused on playing for Pakistan. This team is our best team and I hope they will perform really well,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tasked Abdul Razzaq with addressing Pakistan’s longstanding problem of reliable power hitters.

Razzaq, who was also renowned for his exceptional ball-striking ability during a 17-year international career, is the head coach of the strike force program.

The PCB Strike Force programme will continue throughout the year, with elite and emerging players invited to camps regularly to improve their power hitting.

READ: Salman Mirza shares reaction to Pakistan squad selection for Tri-Series, Asia Cup

Left-arm fast bowler Salman Mirza has reacted to his inclusion in Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

The pacer, who recently made his debut in the T20I series against Bangladesh, took to his social media handle to express his excitement.

“Shukar Alhamdulillah,” Salman Mirza wrote in his Instagram post while sharing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official squad banner.

Salman Mirza gained attention for his outstanding performances in the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, where he represented the defending champions Lahore Qalandars.

 

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A post shared by Salman Mirza (@salmanmirza760)

The pacer hailing from Lahore took nine wickets in four matches, including a three-wicket haul in the all-important do-or-die clash against Islamabad United.

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Salman Mirza followed his exceptional performance in the series against Bangladesh, where he scalped seven wickets in three matches at an excellent economy rate of 5.21.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 17-member squad featuring a blend of youngsters and experienced players.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the side with experienced players such as Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf included in the squad.

Additionally, young talents Saim Ayub, Khushdil Shah, and Hussain Talat are also part of the squad.

The team will be in action in the tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE, which is scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7.

The series will be held entirely at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and will see each team face the others twice, culminating in the final on September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed hails team selection for Tri-Series, Asia Cup 2025

KARACHI: Wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed has praised the Pakistan squad selection for the upcoming Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

Addressing the media during a private event, Sarfaraz mentioned the younger players who are stepping up with their performances.

“This is a new team taking shape, with new players performing. Youngsters such as Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, and Sufyan Moqim have been given opportunities,” said Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Regarding team selection, he stated that it’s a good team and is confident that this team will perform well in the forthcoming events.

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“A good team has been announced, and I hope this team can perform well in the Tri-Nation and the Asia Cup,” the wicket-keeper said.

“Fakhar Zaman has consistently been a match-winner and has performed very well for Pakistan. As I said before, this is a young team, and in the UAE, Pakistan’s record has always been excellent,” Sarfaraz Ahmed concluded.

For the unversed, the 17-member squad announced earlier today will partake in the tri-series, scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

READ: Former cricketer questions Babar, Rizwan’s omission from T20I team