Cricket

Pakistan have qualified for the final of the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup after defeating Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first semi-final. Bangladesh, batting first, were bowled out for 138 in 31.4 overs. Abdullah Al Mamun top-scored with 50 runs, while Pakistan’s Rizwanullah delivered an impressive bowling performance, claiming five wickets for 30 runs in his eight overs. Mohammad Siaam also contributed with two wickets. In reply, Pakistan chased down the 139-run target in

Pakistan batter Muhammad Taha and fast bowler Saqib Khan have shared their experiences of making their Test debuts during the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. Speaking on the PCB Podcast programme Street Drive with Salman Butt, the two debutants reflected on their journeys to international cricket and discussed their performances in the opening Test. Taha made an impressive start to his Test career, scoring 51 off 105 deliveries, including six boundaries, w

Pakistan have bolstered their Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka with the inclusion of pace-bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal, rookie pacer Ali Shabbir, batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif and fast bowler Saqib Khan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the changes on Saturday, with Ali, Tayyab and Saqib receiving their maiden national call-ups. Meanwhile, Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal have been released from the squad. The three newcomers recently repr

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has criticised the toxic behaviour of cricket fans on social media, particularly those who target players for expressing constructive criticism, describing the fan base of Babar Azam as toxic. Speaking about consistency in the Pakistan team, Azam acknowledged Babar’s performances between 2019 and 2023, saying the former Pakistan captain had been remarkably consistent during that period. However, Azam raised concerns over the behaviour of

Pakistan all-rounder Arafat Minhas has credited his positive mindset and consistent hard work for his impressive performances, saying maintaining discipline and a regular training routine is essential regardless of results or format. Speaking on the programme Straight Drive with Salman Butt, Minhas said being named Player of the Series in the tri-nation ODI series had boosted his confidence. “My priority is to deliver my best performance for Pakistan in every match,” Minhas s

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has attributed his success in finals to spending time at the crease, emphasising the importance of adapting to match situations and handling pressure. Speaking exclusively on the programme Straight Drive with Salman Butt, Fakhar discussed his century in the final against Sri Lanka, explaining how he adjusted his approach after Pakistan lost two early wickets. “Pressure is always higher in finals, so it is important to bat according to the situatio

Pakistan batting coach Michael Smith believes the team has developed the confidence to win from difficult situations and is backing the players to bounce back from their first defeat in the tournament ahead of Saturday’s final against Sri Lanka. Speaking exclusively to PCB Digital on Wednesday, Smith admitted Pakistan fell short of their expected standards against Sri Lanka but insisted the team remained confident in its ability to respond positively in the title decider. “We

Shadab Khan produced a remarkable comeback under pressure, scoring his maiden One-day International (ODI) century to guide Pakistan to a thrilling victory over England in the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. With Pakistan on the brink of defeat and only one wicket remaining, Shadab displayed exceptional composure and courage to bring his team within touching distance of victory, turning a seemingly lost contest into a memorable triumph. With Haris Rauf holding fir