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ISLAMABAD: India defeated Pakistan by 88 runs in the Women&rsquo;s World Cup match at Colombo&rsquo;s Premadasa Stadium on Saturday, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament.&nbsp;Put in to bat under cloudy skies, India managed 247 on a slow surface. Harleen Deol top-scored with a composed 46 off 65 balls, while Pratika Rawal made 31. Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh provided late momentum with an unbeaten 35 off 20 deliveries, including two sixes and three fours.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s bowlers kept up the pressure throughout, with Diana Baig leading the attack in a spirited spell of 4 for 47. Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana also took key wickets, with Sana dismissing opener Smriti Mandhana for 23 after a tight opening spell.&nbsp;Chasing 248, Pakistan were bowled out for 159 in 43 overs. Sidra Amin stood out with a fighting 81 off 106 balls, hitting nine boundaries and a six, but lacked support from the other end. Indian seamer Kranti Goud claimed 3 for 20 as Pakistan&rsquo;s batting lineup struggled to build partnerships.&nbsp;The result placed India at the top of the tournament standings ahead of Australia, while Pakistan will look to regroup after consecutive defeats in their opening matches.&nbsp;There were no formal greetings between players before the national anthems, continuing a recent trend of limited interaction between the two sides. The teams last met during the men&rsquo;s Asia Cup in the UAE, a tournament marked by heightened rivalry and tense on-field moments.

Cricket

India posted 247 before bowling out Pakistan for 159 in Colombo, with Sidra Amin’s resilient 81 the lone standout. Diana Baig impressed with 4-47 as Pakistan look to bounce back after consecutive World Cup losses.

India beat Pakistan to stay unbeaten in Women’s World Cup

COLOMBO: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her Pakistan counterpart Fatima Sana did not shake hands at the toss of Sunday&#39;s Women&#39;s World Cup cricket match, mirroring the actions of their men&#39;s teams.&nbsp;Sana won the toss and chose to field at Colombo&#39;s R. Premadasa Stadium, where there were also no formal greetings between the players of both teams before the national anthems.&nbsp;The neighbors faced off three times at the recent men&#39;s Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates and did not shake hands before or after.&nbsp;The Asia Cup, which concluded last Sunday with India beating their rivals, was notable for ill-feeling between the two teams and a series of on-field flashpoints.&nbsp;The tournament in the UAE was the first time the nuclear-armed neighbors had met since a deadly border conflict between them in May.&nbsp;India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the Women&#39;s World Cup.&nbsp;As part of a compromise deal, Pakistan will play all their matches, including Sunday&#39;s group match in Sri Lanka, rather than travel to India.&nbsp;India and Pakistan only meet in cricket in international tournaments and on neutral territory. India were 86-2 after 20 overs.

Women's cricket World Cup, ICC, Pakistan vs India

Pakistan win the toss, opt to field first. India are 86-2 after 20 overs.

No handshakes again as India, Pakistan meet at Women's World Cup

Syed Ahmed Raza

COLOMBO: Pakistan will face traditional rivals India in their ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 fixture at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, in what promises to be one of the tournament&rsquo;s most anticipated encounters. The match will start at 2:30 PM.&nbsp;Pakistan are seeking a strong comeback after their opening match defeat to Bangladesh, while India began their campaign with a win over Sri Lanka.&nbsp;For Pakistan, the contest provides an opportunity to register a historic first victory over India in the 50-over format and boost their hopes of progressing further in the tournament.&nbsp;The match comes amid heightened political tensions between the two countries. Officials indicated that, as seen during the men&rsquo;s Asia Cup last month, players may not exchange customary handshakes before or after the game.&nbsp;Both sides are under pressure, with India aiming to move closer to a semifinal spot and Pakistan determined to turn the tide against their arch-rivals in Colombo.&nbsp;Likely XIs&nbsp;Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Rameen Shamim, Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz, Fatima Sana (C), Natalia Pervaiz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal.&nbsp;India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud and Shree Charani.

Pakistan eye breakthrough against India in Women’s World Cup clash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan head into Sunday&rsquo;s Asia Cup final against India with history on their side, having won more final face-offs against their arch-rivals in multi-nation tournaments.&nbsp;The neighbors have met five times in finals of events featuring five or more teams. Pakistan emerged victorious in three, while India won two. India clinched the 1985 Benson &amp; Hedges World Championship and the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup final. Pakistan lifted the Austral-Asia Cup in 1986 and 1994, before routing India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.&nbsp;This will be their first-ever meeting in an Asia Cup final. Strengths and weaknesses India&rsquo;s batting firepower remains their strongest asset, with Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav anchoring the top order and Hardik Pandya providing balance in the middle. But questions linger over their lower-order depth, particularly against quality pace.&nbsp;Pakistan, in contrast, are banking on their fast-bowling trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf to tilt the contest. Their batting, however, has lacked consistency, with Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub under pressure to deliver alongside skipper Salman Ali Agha.&nbsp;Form and milestones India have won two of the last four Asia Cups unbeaten. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh recently became the first Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20 internationals. Pakistan&rsquo;s Haris Rauf is the joint-leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 scalps.&nbsp;Likely line-ups India (probable): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.&nbsp;Pakistan (probable): Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

This is the first time the arch-rivals are meeting in the Asia Cup final.

Pakistan boast better finals record against India before Asia Cup decider

ISLAMABAD: Cricket&rsquo;s fiercest rivalry is about to enter uncharted territory. For the first time in the tournament&rsquo;s 41-year history, Pakistan and India will face off in the Asia Cup final on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.&nbsp;The clash adds a fresh chapter to a storied rivalry that transcends sport, bringing political tensions, national pride, and the weight of history to the crease. While the two sides have squared off many times in Asia Cup matches, never before has a title been on the line.&nbsp;Pakistan sealed their place in the decider by edging Bangladesh in a tense 11-run win, while India arrive unbeaten after brushing aside all challengers. The Green Shirts, champions in 2000 and 2012, are chasing their third crown, while India look to extend their dominance in the region.&nbsp;But the buildup has been far from smooth.&nbsp;A handshake controversy in the group stage, when Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav, reportedly on the advice of the Indian government, declined to shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha, sparked a storm.&nbsp;The gesture was repeated in the Super Four round, leaving Pakistan&rsquo;s players and coach Mike Hesson openly frustrated. Agha later called the snub &ldquo;harmful,&rdquo; saying past Indo-Pak contests, no matter how heated, always ended with a handshake.&nbsp;The tension has only heightened the stakes. This is the first tournament meeting between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a military conflict in May, ensuring emotions will run high under Dubai&rsquo;s lights.&nbsp;&ldquo;There&rsquo;s always pressure in Pakistan-India matches,&rdquo; Agha admitted at the pre-final press conference. &ldquo;But if we make fewer mistakes, we can win. You&rsquo;ll see us winning.&rdquo;&nbsp;India, meanwhile, survived a Super Over scare against Sri Lanka in Friday&rsquo;s dead rubber, a reminder that even unbeaten sides can wobble.&nbsp;For fans, the final promises more than just cricket; it&rsquo;s a collision of skill, nerves, and national sentiment, with the Asia Cup trophy as the prize.

India and Pakistan meet in their first-ever Asia Cup final in Dubai. Pakistan eye a third title, India defend their unbeaten run, while handshake controversies and recent political tensions add extra spice to the already historic showdown.

Pakistan, India set for historic first Asia Cup final showdown

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

COLOMBO: The Pakistan women&rsquo;s cricket team, led by captain Fatima Sana, has arrived in Colombo ahead of the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup.&nbsp;The team will begin its training sessions from today, with practice scheduled to start at 2:00 PM local time, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1970571246833451330&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin&sessionId=53886bf0da5a4a048b49a8b0f61fb1acf0afae09&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 792px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1970571246833451330"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Pakistan will play its first warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Sept. 25, followed by a second warm-up fixture against South Africa on Sept. 28.&nbsp;The team will open its World Cup campaign on Oct. 2 against Bangladesh, followed by a key match against traditional rivals India on Oct. 5. Speaking at a pre-departure press conference in Lahore, head coach Muhammad Wasim said the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa had been &ldquo;very useful&rdquo; for building momentum ahead of the World Cup. Although Pakistan lost the three-match series 2-1, he stressed that the focus was not solely on results.&nbsp;&ldquo;The matches allowed us to evaluate different aspects of our game. Winning was secondary; our main objective was to get the players ready for World Cup conditions, and we&rsquo;ve achieved that to a large extent,&rdquo; he noted. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1970462743166677501&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin&sessionId=53886bf0da5a4a048b49a8b0f61fb1acf0afae09&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 650px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1970462743166677501"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Wasim added that the weather in Sri Lanka, the World Cup host, is similar to Lahore, which he said would help the players adapt quickly and deliver strong performances.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s group-stage fixtures:Vs Bangladesh Oct. 2Vs India Oct. 5Vs Australia on Oct. 8Vs England on Oct. 15Vs New Zealand on Oct. 18Vs South Africa on Oct. 21Vs Sri Lanka on Oct. 24&nbsp;India and Sri Lanka are jointly hosting the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025. Pakistan will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreed between the boards. Under this arrangement, fixtures involving either side are held at neutral venues, ensuring participation without compromising on security or logistics.

PCB, Pakistan women's cricket team, ICC World Cup 2025 

The team begins its training sessions from today, with practice scheduled to start at 2:00 PM local time.

Pakistan women’s team arrives in Colombo for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

Reuters

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Agha said his team were ready to face India in the next round of the Asia Cup on Sunday after last week&#39;s group-stage match between the arch-rivals ended in acrimony when the Indian side refused to shake hands.&nbsp;Pakistan beat the United Arab Emirates in their final Group A game on Wednesday to advance to the Super Fours stage, where they will also play two teams from Group B in a round robin format.&nbsp;Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2013, and they play each other only in multi-team tournaments.&nbsp;&quot;We are ready, we are ready for any challenge,&quot; Salman said after their 41-run victory against the UAE.&nbsp;&quot;We just want to play good cricket. If we play good cricket, like we have played in the last few months, I think we&#39;ll be good against any side.&quot;&nbsp;Fakhar Zaman made 50, but Pakistan&#39;s frontline batters disappointed against the UAE&#39;s modest attack with opener Saim Ayub falling for his third successive duck in the tournament.&nbsp;Salman acknowledged they had to bat better.&nbsp;&quot;We got the job done, but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order,&quot; Salman said.&nbsp;&quot;That&#39;s been a concern and something we need to work on.&quot;&nbsp;India had cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan last weekend in the first cricket match between the sides since a four-day military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.&nbsp;While the match itself passed without incident, there was no shaking of hands between the captains at the toss or among the players at the end.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pakistan Cricket Board called for match referee Andy Pycroft&#39;s immediate removal for a code of conduct &quot;violation&quot; and considered withdrawing from the tournament before going ahead with Wednesday&#39;s match.&nbsp;India and Pakistan could meet for a third time at the tournament if they both reach the September 28 final.

The two arch-rivals are set to meet again on Sunday, Sept. 21, in the Super Four round.

Pakistan gearing up for India rematch in Asia Cup: Agha

DUBAI: Spinners led by Kuldeep Yadav helped India thrash Pakistan by seven wickets in the Asia Cup on Sunday as the neighbors met on the cricket pitch for the first time since a military conflict between them in May. Kuldeep returned figures of 3-18 and along with fellow spinner Axar Patel kept Pakistan down to 127-9 in a key Group A T20 clash in Dubai. India lost two wickets after a fiery 31 off 13 balls from opener Abhishek Sharma, but skipper Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten 47 to achieve the target with 25 balls to spare. Suryakumar put on 56 runs with left-hander Tilak Varma, who hit 31 before being bowled by Saim Ayub. The captain stood firm and hit the winning six as Indian fans celebrated at a stadium, which had lot of empty seats, and the players from both teams went off without handshakes. Abhishek came out roaring as he hit Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi for a four and a six and, despite the fall of Shubman Gill in the next over, kept up the charge. Swashbuckling Abhishek cracked four boundaries and two sixes before he mistimed another attempt for a maximum to be caught at long-off off spinner Ayub. India&rsquo;s bowlers set up the dominant win as Axar, who took 2-18, and Kuldeep combined to rattle the opposition batting, which suffered from a lack of partnerships. Hardik Pandya struck in the first over to dismiss opener Ayub for a golden duck and fellow quick Jasprit Bumrah sent back wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris for three. Sahibzada Farhan, who top-scored with 40, attempted to rebuild the innings along with Fakhar Zaman, who made 17, in a partnership of 39. Axar broke the stand with his left-arm spin as he got Zaman caught out and in his next over had skipper Salman Agha out for three. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep came into the attack and struck twice on successive balls to pack off Hasan Nawaz (5) and Mohammad Nawaz (0) as Pakistan slipped to 64-6 inside 13 overs. Wickets kept tumbling, but number nine Afridi took on the opposition attack with four sixes in his unbeaten 33 off 16 balls to push the total past 120 and play out Pakistan&rsquo;s full 20 overs. India, with two wins from two, are nearly through to the next Super Fours stage of the tournament with their final group match against Oman on Friday. Pakistan play hosts United Arab Emirates next and despite the defeat are expected to make the next stage. India resisted calls to boycott the T20 clash between the nations, who have not played in any bilateral series since deadly attacks in Mumbai in 2008 were blamed on Pakistan-based militants. The hostilities in May this year left more than 70 people dead in missile, drone and artillery exchanges, before a ceasefire.

Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls as India chased 128 with 25 balls remaining.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan vs India"