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Rizwan ‘most likely’ to replace Sarfaraz in Boxing Day Test

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  • Tight battle between Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza expected.
  • Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique will continue to open.
  • Test will begin on December 26 in Melbourne. 

Pakistan’s Muhammed Rizwan is expected to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed as the wicketkeeper for the second Test against Australia among other crucial changes in the squad, Geo News reported Friday. 

The five-day Boxing Day Test will begin on December 26 (Tuesday) in Melbourne, a paradise for pacers.

The sources said multiple changes may be witnessed in the Pakistan playing XI in the next match, adding that there will be a tight battle between Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza to make a place in the squad after the exclusion of injured Khurram Shahzad.

There was no chance of Wasim Jr’s making inroads into the team for the Melbourne game, said the sources. Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique will continue to open the innings, they added.

The sources said there was a bright chance of dropping all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and playing off-break bowler Sajid Khan.

Khurram Shahzad may take months to return

Meanwhile, Khurram Shahzad is feared to miss this entire cricket season because of an abdominal muscle tear and a stress fracture in his left 10th rib that he suffered during the Perth Test, The News reported Friday, citing the player’s medical reports.

According to the publication, he will be lucky if he can get well enough to be considered for selection for the T20 World Cup in June 2024.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Shahzad will not play the ongoing Test series against Australia.

During the first Test, Shahzad reported feeling uneasy on his left side after which he was sent for an MRI scan after the match.

After speaking with an expert in Australia, the PCB will decide on a final player management protocol. He will then be sent to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore where he will continue his injury management and rehabilitation.

Back-to-back injuries in the Pakistan squad have created problems for the team management. Earlier, Abrar Ahmed was ruled out of the first Test against Australia due to a leg injury.

Captain Shan Masood’s side is already depleted in attack, with injured Naseem Shah sidelined and Haris Rauf having opted out of the series to play in Australia’s T20 Big Bash League.

Shahzad’s injury was another blow for Pakistan ahead of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

Shahzad debuted in international Test with the December 14-17 Perth match against Australia. The 24-year-old took five wickets on debut in the 360-run loss to the Aussies.

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The ICC delegation inspects the National Stadium to evaluate the preparations for the Champions Trophy.

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The delegation arrived in Karachi last night and inspected the National Stadium this morning, evaluating the ongoing development and preparations for the Champions Trophy.

Subsequent to Karachi, the ICC delegation will proceed to Islamabad and Lahore for the next round of the evaluation. They will compile the comprehensive report on locations and preparations following the conclusion of the visit.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to occur in Pakistan from February to March; however, India’s participation remains doubtful as the BCCI seeks governmental consent for the visit.

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Reports from Indian media, referencing a source within the BCCI, indicate that the Indian squad will not travel to Pakistan for the forthcoming ICC event.

Subsequent reports indicated that the board has officially suggested Dubai and Sri Lanka as prospective locations for hosting India’s matches.

Geoff Allardice, the CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC), dismissed the reports, asserting that no teams had expressed any reluctance to participate in the competition.

In a media meeting in Dubai regarding the Women’s T20 World Cup, Allardice conveyed his approval of Pakistan as the tournament venue. He emphasized the ICC’s assurance in Pakistan’s capacity to host the Champions Trophy.

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Champions Trophy 2025 will remain in Pakistan, the CEO of the ICC has said.

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Dismissing any rumors that the Champions Trophy 2025 will be moved to a different nation, International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Geoff Allardice has stated that the tournament will take place in Pakistan as planned.

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is slated to take place in Pakistan in February and March. Nevertheless, India’s participation in the competition is up in the air since the BCCI is still awaiting government sanction to travel there.

Recall that there were rumors in Indian media, backed by the BCCI, that the Indian team would not be traveling to Pakistan for the forthcoming ICC match.

Additional reports stated that the board had formally suggested Sri Lanka and Dubai as possible locations for India’s match.

According to Geoff Allardice, who denied the reports, no team has expressed reluctance to play in the competition.

Allardice voiced her appreciation over Pakistan’s hosting of the Women’s T20 World Cup during a press conference in Dubai. He went on to emphasize that Pakistan is the ICC’s choice to host the Champions Trophy.

Remarkably, Pakistan is preparing three stadiums for the Champions Trophy in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.

The PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has revealed that the stadium modifications will be finished prior to the start of the Champions Trophy.

Gaddafi Stadium’s basement will be built by September 30. It will take three weeks to finish each floor. A steel framework would make up the front building. By December 31, the primary structure of Gaddafi Stadium will be finished, according to Naqvi.

“The seats will be erected in the stadium prior to the Champions Trophy; Indi Stadium will need to be fully destroyed and rebuilt.

“The Champions Trophy will take place before the renovations at Karachi’s [National Stadium] are finished,” he said.

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In the possible return of the Afro-Asian Cup, players from Pakistan and India might go together.

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Pakistan and India were among the best sub-continent nations that competed in the Afro-Asia Cup, which was contested in 2005 and 2007. The Africa XI was comprised of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. The Asia XI was comprised of two teams.

Due to problems with broadcasting and political hurdles, the event was canceled after only two editions, despite the fact that it received a great deal of attention and appreciation from cricket lovers all over the world.

The negotiations regarding the resuscitation of the Afro-Asia Cup sprang to life a few days after Jay Shah was appointed to the position of Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC!).

The competition was played in the format of a Twenty20 match, but the next edition of the tournament might be played in the format of a Twenty20 match.

Samod Damodar, the chairman of the African Cricket Association (ACA), presented conjecture over the possibility that the idea will actually be adopted. In addition, he provided an update on the situation.

The fact that the Afro-Asia Cup did not take place is something that has left me feeling extremely upset. Despite the fact that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) did not receive sufficient momentum, it is currently being reconsidered. To a large extent, I believe that it was a lack of comprehension and a refusal to support the idea. It is something that our members deeply lament. It was necessary for Africa to be the driving force behind it,” Damodar was quoted as saying in a story published by Forbes.

With the belief that the Afro-Asia Cup has the potential to alleviate political tensions, Damodar has great hopes for the competition.

It is possible that these matches will break down political boundaries that are currently in place. Instead than driving a wedge between people, cricket can help establish bridges between them. In my opinion, I do not feel that players are hostile toward one another; therefore, I am confident that they would be willing to participate in this activity. The fact that Mahinda is now a member of the International Cricket Council board and Jay Shah is the current president of the ICC may give this cause a little bit more traction. When it comes to making this happen, both of them have always been proactive in their efforts,” he went on to say.

Claims concerning the restoration of the Afro-Asia Cup also emerged in June 2022, claiming that the competition would make its return in the middle of 2023. For those who are unaware, these claims suggested that the tournament would return.

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