Sports

Pak vs NZ: In major blow to Green Shirts, Abbas Afridi ruled out of third T20I

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Abbas Afridi has been ruled out of the 3rd T20I against New Zealand due to discomfort from a low-grade abdominal wall muscle strain, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The third T20I match is set to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in Dunedin.

The PCB said the fast bowler’s scan showed no sign of significant injury, and “he will be managed symptomatically”.

The cricket governing body said Abbas’ availability for the last two games will be made at a later stage.

His exclusion would be a big loss to the team as Afridi was the leading wicket taker for team along with Haris Rauf even though they have been in lost causes.

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 21 runs in the second Twenty20 international to take a 2-0 series lead.

The tourists threw away a strong position in their run chase after Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman scored half-centuries as they were dismissed for 173 in the final over, in response to New Zealand’s 194-8.

Victory came at a cost for the Black Caps, whose captain Kane Williamson retired hurt with a hamstring injury while batting, placing him in doubt for the remainder of the five-match series.

The match bore similarities to New Zealand’s 46-run win in the opening match in Auckland on Friday, with another aggressive batting approach led from the top by Finn Allen.

His 70 off 41 balls continued a run of form which the hard-hitting opener attributed to a change of approach.

“I’ve been working hard on assessing conditions and choosing when to pull the trigger,” Allen said.

“I’m always looking to score boundaries and be positive but it’s situational. It’s when to take a higher-risk option or a lower risk.”

The target looked within sight for Pakistan before Fakhar was bowled by Milne for a power-packed 50 off 25 balls in the 10th over, leaving Pakistan 97-3.

They struggled from that point, with only Babar looking a threat until he was caught off Ben Sears for 66.

Milne finished with 4-33, having earlier removed the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan lost both openers with just 10 runs on the board.

New Zealand were again asked to bat first and Allen immediately took on the visitors´ attack, blasting five sixes and seven fours.

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Test Series Between Pakistan and the West Indies: National Team Practices in Multan

Published

6 hours ago

Farwa

Before playing the West Indies in a two-match test series, the Pakistani cricket team practices at Multan Cricket Stadium.

All 15 players concentrated on batting, bowling, and fielding during the training session while being watched by their instructors.

Pakistan and the West Indies are set to begin their two-match test series on January 17.

From January 25 to 29, the second test of the series will be held in Multan.

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PSL 2025 Draft: The Gold category selections are out!

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Teams are finalizing their Gold Category players as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 draft officially begins.

The top picks from the first round and the teams’ subsequent selections are listed below.

Peshawar Zalmi: During their first pick, Peshawar Zalmi made the unexpected choice to select Abdul Samad from the Gold Category wild card alternatives.

Nahid Rana of Bangladesh was chosen in the second round, further bolstering their team. The team selected Hassan Talat with their third pick in an attempt to strengthen their all-arounder position for the forthcoming campaign.

Multan Sultans: To strengthen their squad, the Multan Sultans made a few important additions. In the gold category, they first selected Muhammad Hasnain, and in the second round, Kamran Ghulam. It is anticipated that these tactical decisions will provide their batting and bowling units with more firepower.

Ben Dwarshuis was chosen by Islamabad United in the first round of the Gold Category, which was an intriguing choice. With this encouraging addition, the squad hopes to balance and deepen its lineup.

Karachi Kings: In their initial round of picks, the Karachi Kings chose Aamir Jamal in the Gold Category. It is anticipated that the addition of this young talent would energize their bowling attack.

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2025 Champions Trophy: PCB submits their initial squad to the ICC

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted a preliminary list of more than 20 players to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Sources have verified that the roster has numerous notable players alongside a blend of burgeoning talent.

The preliminary roster includes prominent individuals such as captain Muhammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Tayyab Tahir, and Irfan Khan Niazi. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abbas Afridi, in addition to spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqim, are included in the preliminary team. Other significant entries are Abdullah Shafiq, Naseem Shah, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, and Hasibullah.

Promising young batsman Saim Ayub, whose fitness is still being evaluated, has also been included in the preliminary team.

According to sources, the final squad would be revealed by February 10, 2025, after the completion of the tri-series against South Africa.

The National Selection Committee has presented a 15-member lineup for the South Africa series, closely resembling the Champions Trophy team.

Insiders indicate that the final team will experience multiple alterations. It is reported that players such as Abdullah Shafiq and Usman Khan are unlikely to be included in the final selection.

According to ICC regulations, all competing teams are required to submit preliminary squad names one month prior to the competition. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 12, 2025, with final squad approvals anticipated just prior to the event.