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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the squad on Sunday, signalling a blend of youth and experience as the team looks to reset after mixed recent performances. The omission of Haris Rauf, a regular feature in Pakistan&rsquo;s T20 setup in recent years, is the biggest surprise, with selectors opting for a slightly reshaped bowling attack.<h3 style="line-height: 2;"> </h3>The squad was announced at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, addressed by PCB Director High Performance and men&rsquo;s national selection committee member Aqib Javed, Pakistan&rsquo;s T20I captain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-edge-sri-lanka-in-thrilling-sixrun-odi-opener-win" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Salman Ali Agha</a>, and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson on Sunday morning. The batting unit includes Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Khawaja Nafay, and Usman Khan, offering a mix of proven international performers and emerging talent. Salman Ali Agha, who has been entrusted with captaincy, adds balance as a middle-order batter capable of contributing with the ball. In the all-rounders&rsquo; department,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/shadab-nafay-make-it-to-pakistans-t20i-squad-for-sri-lanka-series" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shadab Khan</a>, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Mirza provide flexibility, giving Pakistan multiple bowling options and depth in the batting lineup. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah will lead the pace attack, while Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq strengthen the spin resources for conditions expected to assist slower bowlers. <p style='margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 13px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; scroll-behavior: auto !important; line-height: 2;' id="isPasted">In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-will-not-come-to-india-for-t20-world-cup-bcb" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">20-team tournament</a>, each team is set to play four group games before the Super Eight and Knockout Stage, all between Feb. 7 and 8 March.<p style='margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 13px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; scroll-behavior: auto !important; line-height: 2;'>Pakistan are also set to face Australia in a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 29, 31 Jan. and Feb. 1, with the preparation camp starting today. <h3 style="line-height: 2;">Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup</h3>Salman Ali Agha (C), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Faheem Ashraf.

Pakistan's captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (C) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Sri Lanka's captain Charith Asalanka (not pictured) during the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cri

Cricket

The omission of Haris Rauf, a regular feature in Pakistan’s T20 setup in recent years, is the biggest surprise, with selectors opting for a slightly reshaped bowling attack.

Pakistan name T20 World Cup squad, Haris Rauf left out

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan rode on a fighting century from Salman Agha and four wickets from Haris Rauf to beat Sri Lanka by six runs in the opening one-day international in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Agha scored an unbeaten 105 off 87 balls, which guided Pakistan to an imposing 299-5 before Rauf grabbed 4-61 to keep Sri Lanka to 293-9 in 50 overs, giving the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. For Sri Lanka, debutant Kamil Mishara, who scored 38, and Pathum Nissanka, who made 29, set the platform with a solid 85-run opening stand before Rauf dismissed both the openers and Kusal Mendis (nought) in the space of just five runs. Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and skipper Charith Asalanka (32) fought their team back with a fourth wicket stand of 57 but Rauf broke the stand with Babar Azam taking a splendid slip catch to send Samarawickrama back. Sri Lanka were down and out at 210-7, but Wanindu Hasaranga fought a lone battle with a fiery 52-ball 59 to bring the equation to 23 in the last two overs, before holing out with eight balls and 21 needed. Hasaranga hit seven boundaries while Janith Liyanage hit two sixes and as many boundaries in his 28. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said his team put up a good total. &quot;Agha and (Hussain) Talat batted very well to take us to 299,&quot; said Shaheen. &quot;A target of 300 was good, and then Haris gave us crucial wickets.&quot; Asalanka admitted that bowlers conceded extra runs. &quot;The way Agha and Talat batted, it took the game away,&quot; said Asalanka. &quot;We gave away too many runs, it should have been under 270.&quot; Earlier, Agha hit his second ODI century while Talat made 62, lifting the home team from a precarious 95-4 after they were sent in to bat. Sri Lanka spinner Hasaranga had jolted the home team with figures of 3-54, before Agha and Talat added 138 for the fifth wicket to revive the innings. Talat was finally dismissed in the 44th over, having hit a six and six fours in his maiden ODI fifty. Agha struck nine boundaries, helping Pakistan add 104 in the last 10 overs alongside Mohammad Nawaz who scored a brisk 23-ball 36 not out. It was pacer Asitha Fernando who provided the tourists a breakthrough in the fifth over when he trapped opener Saim Ayub leg-before for six. Fakhar Zaman (32) and Babar Azam (29) added 54 runs for the second wicket as Pakistan crawled to 28 in the first 10 overs and finally reached 50 in the 16th. Hasaranga then produced a 16-ball spell of destruction, removing Zaman, Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan (five).

Agha scores unbeaten 105 off 87 balls, guides Pakistan to imposing 299-5; Rauf grabs 4-61 to keep Sri Lanka to 293-9 in 50 overs, giving the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.



Pakistan upstage Sri Lanka in first ODI as Agha and Rauf shine

ISLAMABAD: India has filed an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their on-field gestures during the Asia Cup Super Four game last Sunday, Indian media reported on Thursday.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is reliably learnt that the BCCI filed the complaint against the duo on Wednesday, and ICC is in receipt of the e-mail,&rdquo; Press Trust of India reported.&nbsp;In case Farhan and Rauf deny allegations, they might have to appear before the ICC Elite Panel Referee Richie Richardson, for an official hearing.&nbsp;Farhan&#39;s animated celebration after his half-century and Haris Rauf&#39;s gestures toward fans at the boundary, believed to be incidents cited in a BCCI complaint, have gone viral on social media.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the issue, saying: &quot;The pressure on players in this environment is immense. While I saw what Haris did, it&rsquo;s not our concern. We&rsquo;re proud of how our players conducted themselves; they responded with the bat, not gestures. Other teams may have taken issue with us, too, but we&rsquo;re satisfied with our conduct.&quot;&nbsp;PCB complains against YadavAccording to PTI, the PCB has also filed a complaint with the ICC over India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who dedicated the September 14 win over Pakistan to &quot;the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims.&quot; The PCB has labeled the remarks as &quot;political.&quot;&nbsp;Suryakumar had said during the post-match presentation: &quot;This win is for our armed forces, who showed great bravery. We hope to keep inspiring them.&quot;&nbsp;That match also drew attention for the lack of customary gestures, no handshake at the toss or after the game, sparking what&#39;s now dubbed &quot;Handshakegate&quot;.&nbsp;Sunday&rsquo;s Super Fours clash saw further heated exchanges, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf involved in on-field spats with India&rsquo;s Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.

PCB also reportedly complains about Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav's "political comments".

BCCI lodges complaint against Rauf, Sahibzada to ICC

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan will face off in the 14th match of the Men&rsquo;s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;The match will start at 7:30 p.m. local time.&nbsp;Recent resultsIndia is leading Group A after winning all three group matches, earning six points with a net run rate of 3.547, including defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Pakistan.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Pakistan holds second place with four points, winning two of three games; their only loss was to India. Pakistan won against the UAE and Oman.&nbsp;Possible squadIndia&rsquo;s squad is captained by Suryakumar Yadav, with vice-captain Shubman Gill. Batters include Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh while bowlers include Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp; Axar Patel is part of the squad but may miss the game due to a recent head injury. The Pakistani side will be captained by Salman Agha, supported by batters Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan. The bowling line-up features Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Hasan Nawaz.&nbsp;VenueUmpires Asif Yaqoob and Rohan Pandit will officiate, with Virender Sharma as TV umpire. Andy Pycroft will serve as match referee.&nbsp;The game will be played under floodlights in a 20-over format, with an interval between innings.&nbsp;Political context and rivalry Historically, India-Pakistan cricket matches carry political and emotional significance beyond the sport. The rivalry has been marked by tension in recent years, with incidents such as India&rsquo;s players not shaking hands with Pakistan&rsquo;s team after their group match this tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spoke about breaches in conduct and governance by the Indian side. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) found no protocol violations in the disputed incidents.&nbsp;Group A points table<table id="isPasted"><thead><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">Team</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">Matches Played</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">Wins</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">Losses</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">Points</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">Net Run Rate</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">India</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">3</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">0</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">6</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">3.547</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">Pakistan</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">2</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">1</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">4</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">1.790</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">United Arab Emirates</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">1</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">2</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">2</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">-1.984</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">Oman</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">0</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">3</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">0</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">-2.600</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;The Asia Cup final is scheduled for September 28.

The Asia Cup final is scheduled for September 28.

Articles tagged with "Haris Rauf"

Pakistan name T20 World Cup squad, Haris Rauf left out

Pakistan upstage Sri Lanka in first ODI as Agha and Rauf shine

BCCI lodges complaint against Rauf, Sahibzada to ICC

India-Pakistan Asia Cup showdown: Politics fuels drama