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

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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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Today marks the end of the Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan.

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 worldwide trophy tour concluded Monday in Pakistan. It is planned that the trophy trip will include the transportation of the prized silverware to Afghanistan.

The trophy took a journey of adventure during its stay in Pakistan, passing through several beautiful cities. After starting its tour in Islamabad, the capital, it traveled to the picturesque slopes of Murree and Nathia Gali.

The trophy went on to visit Taxila, Khanpur Dam, Abbottabad, and Karachi. Following a fast-paced trip, it has now concluded its leg in Pakistan by returning to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) headquarters in Lahore.

From December 15 to 22, the trophy will continue its global celebration after landing in South Africa.

After that, from December 25 to January 5, the Champions Trophy will travel to Australia, captivating cricket fans, before traveling to New Zealand from January 6 to January 11.

Fans will have the opportunity to interact with the trophy at the journey’s next stop in England, which is scheduled for January 12 to 14.

From January 15 to 26, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be on display in India as the grand finale of this thrilling worldwide trophy tour.

Schedule of Trophy Tour of Champions Trophy 2025

  • 16 – 25 November: Pakistan
  • 26-28 November: Afghanistan
  • 10 – 13 December – Bangladesh
  • 15 – 22 December – South Africa
  • 25 December – 5 January – Australia
  • 6 – 11 January – New Zealand
  • 12 – 14 January: England
  • 15-26 January, India
  • 27 January: event start: Pakistan

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Sumair Ahmad is named the 2025 Champions Trophy Director by PCB.

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PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi commented on the appointment, saying, “Sumair is a highly organized professional with a wealth of administrative expertise.” He will undoubtedly give players, officials, and fans alike an amazing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, especially when combined with his unshakable love for cricket.

He continued, “The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to showcase Pakistan’s ability to host world-class cricketing events, welcoming players and fans from around the globe to experience the country’s renowned hospitality and passion for the game.”

The BCCI informed the ICC earlier this month that it will not be sending a side to the event, which is set for 2025 in Pakistan during the February–March season.

After the PCB asked for clarity in its letter regarding the BCCI’s unwillingness to tour Pakistan, the ICC requested India’s justifications for not inviting Pakistan to compete for the Champions Trophy.

The broadcasters, meanwhile, reportedly pushed the ICC to make the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule available right away.

Due to the Indian government’s refusal to send a delegation to Pakistan for the event, the schedule that was supposed to be issued on November 12 was postponed.

The broadcasting rights, which were given to broadcasters for a record $3 billion until 2027, are heavily dependent on the success of the main events, especially those involving India and Pakistan, which regularly attract the largest audiences.

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India withdraws from the World Cup of Blind T20 Cricket in Pakistan

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Adding to the issue surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian government refused to allow their squad to travel to Pakistan for the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup, which is set to start in Lahore on November 23.

According to Indian media, India, the reigning champion, would not go to Pakistan to play in the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 since the government has not given its approval.

Lahore and Multan are set to host the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 from November 23 to December 3.

The general secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association (IBCA), Sailendra Yadav, recently discussed the upsetting news about the blind cricket team’s upcoming trip to Pakistan in an interview with India Today.

The team was given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Sports Ministry, but the Ministry of External Affairs finally refused to allow them to enter the border, Yadav revealed.

Yadav stated, “We have been waiting for the government to give us permission to travel to Pakistan for the past 25 days.”

“We will not be receiving any authorization to travel to Pakistan, and we can cancel your tournament,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed us over the phone.

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