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ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh will host Pakistan men&rsquo;s cricket team for a full international tour in 2026, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).&nbsp;The tour will feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), as many Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and two Test matches.&nbsp;The T20Is and ODIs series will take place after the ICC T20 World Cup, while the two Tests will form part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.&nbsp;The exact schedule and match venues for all series are yet to be announced.&nbsp;The announcement came as part of a broader reveal of Bangladesh&rsquo;s packed home season, which will include four Tests, 12 ODIs and nine T20Is against various international opponents.&nbsp;As per the schedule, New Zealand will tour Bangladesh in April-May for three ODIs and three T20Is. Australia and India are also set to visit later in the year, in June and August-September respectively, with each team playing three ODIs and three T20Is.&nbsp;The home season will conclude with a two-Test series against the West Indies in October-November, preceded by a three-day warm-up match. In addition, Sri Lanka A will tour Bangladesh in May for two four-day matches and three one-day games.

Cricket

The tour includes three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), as many Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and two Test matches.

Bangladesh to host Pakistan for full bilateral cricket series in 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s sports landscape in 2025 concluded a year of remarkable achievements, international recognition, and renewed confidence.&nbsp; Across disciplines, Pakistani athletes and federations delivered strong performances, bringing the country back into the global sporting spotlight. Cricket dominancePakistan enjoyed a highly successful year in cricket, underlined by major tournament victories at senior and youth levels. The national Emerging team lifted the Emerging Asia Cup, showcasing the depth of Pakistan&rsquo;s talent pipeline and reinforcing its reputation as a breeding ground for elite cricketers.&nbsp;At the junior level, Pakistan captured the U19 Asia Cup, with consistent performances highlighting the strength of the country&rsquo;s youth development system and providing optimism for the future of Pakistan cricket.&nbsp;Pakistan also claimed the Hong Kong Super Sixes title, defeating Kuwait in the final, earning praise from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and underlining Pakistan&rsquo;s adaptability in fast-paced formats. Pakistan marked a major breakthrough by hosting the ICC Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9 &mdash; its first global cricket event since 1996.&nbsp; Matches were staged in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai, drawing widespread praise for organization and security, even though the national team failed to meet expectations on the field. Milestones in tennis&nbsp;The country also hosted the ATP Challenger Cup for the first time from November 24 to 30 in Islamabad.Pakistan&rsquo;s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Muzammil Murtaza reached the final but lost a closely fought contest to the Czech-Kazakh pair of Dominik Palan and Denis Yevseyev. Pakistan&rsquo;s growing strength in tennis was evident with the hosting of two legs of the ITF Junior Tennis Championship J-60 in Islamabad.&nbsp; Abubakar Talha and Hamza Roman captured the doubles title in the second leg, while Bilal Asim and Ahmad Nael Qureshi had earlier won a J-60 title in Riyadh. The events, featuring players from over a dozen countries, underlined Pakistan&rsquo;s expanding role in junior tennis development. Resurgence in international footballInternational football returned to Islamabad&rsquo;s Jinnah Stadium as Pakistan hosted Afghanistan and Syria in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.&nbsp; The <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-afghanistan-share-goalless-draw-in-asian-cup-qualifier" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">national side held Afghanistan to a 1-1 draw</a> before suffering a 5-0 defeat against Syria &mdash; another step forward in reviving international football on home soil.&nbsp;Dominance in cue sportsPakistan enjoyed a stellar year in snooker, winning the IBSF Snooker World Cup Team Championship and claiming titles at the IBSF World Masters and the World U19 Snooker Championship in Bahrain, further cementing its status as a global force in cue sports.&nbsp;Arshad Nadeem and athletics gloryOlympian <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/strategy-runup-in-focus-in-world-athletics-championships-javelin-final-arshad-nadeem" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arshad Nadeem</a> reaffirmed his elite status by successfully defending his gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games, continuing Pakistan&rsquo;s strong presence in international athletics.&nbsp;Martial arts and combat sportsPakistan&rsquo;s martial artists delivered an impressive performance at the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025, winning six medals.&nbsp; Bano Kousar claimed gold in the women&rsquo;s 48kg contact category, while Muhammad Yousuf and Umer Yaseen secured silver medals in the Under-21 Duo and Show Men categories.&nbsp;Women athletes shine across disciplinesPakistan&rsquo;s women continued to break barriers in 2025. The women&rsquo;s baseball team made history by winning a bronze medal at the Women&rsquo;s Asia Cup Qualifier, defeating hosts Thailand and earning qualification for the Asian Women&rsquo;s Baseball Championship.&nbsp;The year concluded on a high note when Inspector Iram Khanum of Rawalpindi Police won <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/world-powerlifting-championship-pakistani-police-officer-defeats-indian-counterpart-to-win-two-gold-medals" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">two gold medals</a> at the World Powerlifting Championship in Sri Lanka, claiming titles in both powerlifting and deadlift events and inspiring women athletes nationwide.&nbsp;A year of momentum and confidenceOverall, 2025 proved to be a year of growth, achievement, and renewed belief for Pakistan&rsquo;s sports sector. Successful hosting of international events, landmark performances by athletes, and steady progress across disciplines have laid a strong foundation for the years ahead.

Football

Hockey

Pakistan’s sports landscape in 2025 unfolded as a year of landmark achievements, international recognition and renewed confidence, with athletes and federations delivering strong performances across multiple disciplines and bringing the country back into the global sporting spotlight.

Pakistan’s Sporting Year 2025: A Year Of Milestones And International Successes

ISLAMABAD: All-rounder Shadab Khan, and wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay have been named in Pakistan&#39;s 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, set to begin in January. Shadab, who last played for Pakistan in June, returns after a successful rehabilitation following shoulder surgery earlier this year.&nbsp;The series, scheduled to take place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium from January 7 to 11, will provide Pakistan an opportunity to finalize their squad for the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2025.&nbsp;Shadab&rsquo;s inclusion is a significant boost for the team as they prepare for the World Cup. The 27-year-old is currently featuring in the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia, which marks his return to competitive cricket.&nbsp;Nafay, 23, is uncapped at the international level but has impressed with his performances for Pakistan Shaheens, having played 32 T20 matches with an impressive strike rate of 132.81.&nbsp;Salman Ali Agha, who captains the team, will continue in his role for the series. Agha has had a standout year, featuring in a record 34 T20I matches &mdash; the most by any Pakistan player this year. He will lead the side as Pakistan looks to build momentum ahead of the World Cup.&nbsp;The squad also includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talent, with the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr all included.&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s team management will be led by head coach Mike Hesson, with Ashley Noffke as the bowling coach and Hanif Malik as the batting coach.&nbsp;The series, that follows <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-rout-sri-lanka-to-win-t20i-triseries" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sri Lanka&#39;s white-ball tour to Pakistan</a> in November, is expected to be a crucial step for Pakistan in refining their lineup for the T20 World Cup, where they will play all their matches in Colombo.&nbsp;Pakistan T20I squad: &nbsp;Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.Team management: &nbsp;Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Col. Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Muhammad Ehsan (masseur).&nbsp;Series schedule:&nbsp;January 7: First T20I&nbsp;January 9: Second T20I&nbsp;January 11: Third T20I

The series is to take place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla, from January 7 to 11.

Shadab, Nafay make it to Pakistan’s T20I squad for Sri Lanka series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan U-19 posted a strong total of 347 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs against India Under-19 in the final of the ACC Men&rsquo;s Under-19 Asia Cup at the ICC Academy Ground on Sunday.&nbsp;After India won the toss and elected to field, Pakistan were anchored by a commanding innings from Sameer Minhas, who scored 172 off 113 balls, hitting 17 fours and nine sixes. It was the highest individual score of the innings and the backbone of Pakistan&rsquo;s total.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 874px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2002663550934999237&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e0d8b861ad4673be6b7289b636bec3e477aecac6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2002663550934999237"></iframe></div></div>Hamza Zahoor gave Pakistan a brisk start with 18 off 14 balls before being dismissed early. Usman Khan contributed 35, while Ahmed Hussain added 56 to provide stability through the middle overs. Captain Farhan Yousaf scored 19. Pakistan lost wickets in quick succession towards the end, but unbeaten contributions from Niqab Shafiq (12) and Mohammad Sayyam (13) helped push the total close to 350.&nbsp;For India, Deepesh Devendran was the most successful bowler, claiming 3 for 83, while Khilan Patel and Henil Patel took two wickets each. Pakistan&rsquo;s innings ended at 347 for 8, setting India a challenging target in the final.

Sameer Minhas is the start for the Greenshirts with 172 runs off 113 balls, hitting 17 fours and nine sixes.

Pakistan set 348-run target for India in U19 Asia Cup final

ADELAIDE: A dominant Australia collected the last four wickets they needed Sunday, to win the third Test and retain the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket, crushing the dreams of an England side who finally showed some fight.&nbsp;England&#39;s dogged resistance on day five at Adelaide Oval lasted into the second session before Scott Boland removed Josh Tongue for an 82-run victory to ensure the famous urn remains in Australian hands.&nbsp;The tourists needed a win to keep the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane, with two more Tests still to play at Melbourne and Sydney.&nbsp;But despite showing more grit, they were again outplayed by an Australian team who suffered a setback with spin wizard Nathan Lyon hurting his hamstring and hobbling off.&nbsp;Chasing 435 was always going to be a huge challenge, with no side ever reeling in more than 418 to win in Test history, but England at least gave it a crack as they scored 352 all out.&nbsp;Their demise in just 11 days is the joint second quickest in more than a century since the 1921 series was completed in eight days, with their &quot;Bazball&quot; style of ultra-attacking cricket exposed.&nbsp;England&#39;s capitulation over three Tests is a far cry from the pre-Ashes hype where they were touted as having their best chance in a generation to win a series in Australia.&nbsp;And it made a mockery of former fast bowler Stuart Broad&#39;s claim that the hosts had their weakest side in 15 years, written off by others as a &quot;Dad&#39;s Army.&quot;&nbsp;The reality for Ben Stokes&#39;s men is that England have now gone 18 Tests since winning in Australia, dating back to their last series victory there in 2010-11.&nbsp;Their last three trips yielded one-sided scorelines of 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0, with more of the same on the cards unless there is a dramatic shift in their fortunes.&nbsp;&#39;Livin&#39; on a Prayer&#39;They resumed on 207-6 with Will Jacks on 11 and Jamie Smith two.&nbsp;Smith showed early intent by slog-sweeping Lyon over deep midwicket for six then banged another off Cameron Green as the Barmy Army fans broke into Bon Jovi&#39;s &quot;Livin&#39; on a Prayer.&quot;&nbsp;After four days of searing heat and sunshine, the lights were on with dark clouds looming and after 40 minutes the players went off as fine rain returned.&nbsp;It was a passing shower and they were back out 40 minutes later with lunch pushed back by half an hour.&nbsp;Lyon limped off soon after the restart after pulling a hamstring in sliding to save a boundary.&nbsp;He was sent for scans and ruled out of the rest of the Test, later seen on crutches with rest of the series for him in peril.&nbsp;When Mitchell Starc took the new ball, Smith began hitting out, crunching two fours in a row, and it proved his downfall when he skied to Pat Cummins at midwicket.&nbsp;Will Jacks produced his highest Test score of 47 and steered England&#39;s chase below 100.&nbsp;But he fell to another spectacular catch from Marnus Labuschange, diving to his left in front of wicketkeeper Alex Carey after an edge off Starc.&nbsp;Starc struck again to send Jofra Archer packing before Boland took out Tongue, sparking huge celebrations.&nbsp;England took six wickets before lunch on Saturday to wrap up Australia&#39;s second innings for 349 with Travis Head slamming 170.&nbsp;They then survived for two sessions, but the wheels came off courtesy of Lyon.&nbsp;He bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes before tempting Zak Crawley down the wicket to be stumped by Alex Carey for 85, with Cummins accounting for danger man Joe Root on 39.&nbsp;It was left to Smith and Jacks to ensure it would go to a fifth day.

England fall 82 runs short of 435-run target in Adelaide.

Australia beat England in third Test to retain Ashes

MOUNT MAUNGANAUI:&nbsp;Devon Conway became just the 10th player in Test history to hit a double century and a century in the same match on Sunday when he reached three figures before tea in New Zealand&#39;s second innings against the West Indies at Mount Maunganui.&nbsp;Conway was on 100 at the break and opening partner Tom Latham on 80 as New Zealand raced to 192-0 and a lead of 347 on the fourth day, backing up his 227 in the first innings.&nbsp;He and captain Latham, who put on a mammoth 323 opening partnership in the first innings with Latham contributing 137, have combined for 515 runs in the match.&nbsp;Conway joins an illustrious list in scoring a double century and a century in the same Test match.&nbsp;Only Doug Walters, Greg Chappell, Marnus Labuschagne, Sunil Gavaskar, Shubman Gill, Lawrence Rowe, Brian Lara, Graham Gooch and Kumar Sangakkara had achieved the feat.&nbsp;Conway&#39;s 327 runs so far are the third highest for New Zealand in a single Test, behind Stephen Fleming&#39;s 343 (274 and 69) against Sri Lanka in 2003, and Martin Crowe&#39;s 329 (30 and 299) against Sri Lanka in 1991.&nbsp;Conway and Latham added 157 runs in the middle session at more than five an over as they looked for quick runs to set up a declaration before the close.&nbsp;New Zealand took four wickets in the morning session as West Indies were 420 all out, with Kavem Hodge left stranded unbeaten on a fine 123 from 275 balls, including 15 boundaries.&nbsp;Jacob Duffy finished with 4-86, including the first two wickets of the day, taking his tally for the three-match series to 18.&nbsp;The West Indies resumed on 381-6, with Hodge on 109 batting alongside Anderson Phillip.&nbsp;Phillip lasted just nine balls and Shai Hope, who missed the last two days because of food poisoning, fell for four.&nbsp;Jayden Seales briefly showed some resistance, making 15 from 53 balls until he was bowled by Ajaz Patel with a ball that grazed the off stump on the way through to the keeper.&nbsp;Kemar Roach was the last man to bat, nursing a hamstring strain suffered on day one, but lasted only two balls.&nbsp;Patel took 3-113 in 41 overs, his first wickets on home soil, while Michael Rae had 2-89.&nbsp;New Zealand made 575-8 declared in their first innings.

Becomes only 10th player in history to achieve this milestone in Test cricket. 

New Zealand's Conway joins elite club with century, double ton in same Test

ISLAMABAD: Indian social media users erupted in anger and disbelief on Wednesday after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that its team would continue its Pakistan tour despite a recent terrorist attack in Islamabad.&nbsp;The announcement came after days of speculation in the Indian media suggesting that the visiting team was preparing to return home due to security concerns. The SLC, however, confirmed that it had reviewed the situation with Pakistani authorities and decided to proceed with the series as planned.&nbsp;The decision triggered a wave of furious reactions from Indian users on X (formerly Twitter), with many accounts accusing the Sri Lankan board of &ldquo;putting players&rsquo; lives at risk&rdquo; and prioritizing money over safety.&nbsp;An account named @1spacerecorder posted: &ldquo;Sri Lanka cricket is not just playing cricket &mdash; they are playing with their lives. They have not learned anything from the 2009 attack. Sri Lanka should immediately cancel the series and leave the country to save their lives.&rdquo;<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" 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=1988832609774809575&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a5cf8fcddcb449cca1d8da90e43b2d26e78cef77&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 713px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>One user, @Naviya, wrote: &ldquo;Send the entire cricket board to Pakistan too &mdash; let them experience firsthand what they&rsquo;ve put the team through.&rdquo;<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" 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=1988664208209416502&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a5cf8fcddcb449cca1d8da90e43b2d26e78cef77&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 461px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>An account named @VelleVelle56170 called the SLC &ldquo;shameless&rdquo; for &ldquo;risking players&rsquo; lives for money&rdquo; and sarcastically congratulated &ldquo;eight Sri Lankan players [who] successfully escaped from the terror filth.&rdquo;<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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988778297782899060&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a5cf8fcddcb449cca1d8da90e43b2d26e78cef77&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 620px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>User @chumchum432 wrote: &ldquo;Srilankan team management is just bullshit management. How on earth can someone send the team when already that team was attacked back in 2009?&rdquo;<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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988839716012101949&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a5cf8fcddcb449cca1d8da90e43b2d26e78cef77&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 778px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1988839716012101949"></iframe></div></div>Similarly, @ranjithkumar599 tagged the Sri Lanka Cricket Board in a post saying: &ldquo;You guys don&rsquo;t have common sense. Attacks happened many times when you were in Pakistan, still you visited.&rdquo; <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-5" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-5&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988832609774809575&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=49d22f15b76d16ebab4eeb708d79c4c65e8717a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 713px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The backlash contrasted sharply with reactions in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where fans hailed the SLC&rsquo;s resolve as a sign of enduring friendship and sportsmanship.&nbsp;Hashtags such as #FriendshipNotOut and #PAKvSL began trending across both countries soon after the announcement. Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar praised Sri Lanka&rsquo;s gesture, saying the island nation had &ldquo;once again stood with Pakistan and with the game of cricket.&rdquo; <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-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988668670630150501&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=49d22f15b76d16ebab4eeb708d79c4c65e8717a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 370px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Former Pakistan quick Shoaib Akhtar also thanked the Sri Lankan cricket team for &ldquo;standing with cricket and defeating terrorism.&rdquo; <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-7" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-7&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988689863886209478&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=49d22f15b76d16ebab4eeb708d79c4c65e8717a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 298px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe cricket team also landed in Pakistan. The tri-nation T20I series, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, will continue as scheduled, with the remaining Pakistan v Sri Lanka&nbsp;ODIs to be played in Rawalpindi on Nov. 14 and 16.

The decision triggered a wave of furious reactions from Indian users on X (formerly Twitter), with many accounts accusing the Sri Lankan cricket board of 'putting players’ lives at risk'

#FriendshipNotOut: Indian social media goes berserk as Sri Lanka continue Pakistan cricket tour

Pakistan have featured in 12 ODIs at the ground, winning nine and losing three, while South Africa have played five, winning two.

International cricket returns to Faisalabad after 17 years

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s star batter Babar Azam has etched his name in the record books, becoming the leading run-scorer in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) after overtaking India&rsquo;s Rohit Sharma. Babar achieved the milestone in his 123rd innings, amassing 4,234 runs, just ahead of Rohit&rsquo;s 4,231 scored in 151 innings. India&rsquo;s Virat Kohli sits third on the list with 4,188 runs from 117 innings.<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" 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=1984324118561636419&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a4c48a7afdc9bb96e2b40ae5282ef97a063e419f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 827px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The former Pakistan captain reached the landmark during his team&rsquo;s nine-wicket victory over South Africa, a result that levelled the series at 1-1. Babar&rsquo;s consistency and graceful stroke play once again underlined why he is regarded among the finest batters in modern T20 cricket, boasting both a higher average and a superior strike rate than many of his contemporaries. Earlier, Pakistan&rsquo;s bowlers bundled out South Africa for 110, before Saim Ayub&rsquo;s unbeaten 71 guided the hosts to an emphatic win inside 14 overs. With the series now tied, Babar will aim to build on his record-breaking feat in the decisive third T20 as he continues to redefine batting excellence across formats. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Most runs in T20Is </h2><div class="fr-embed"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><thead style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"><tr><th>No.</th><th>Player</th><th>Country</th><th>Mat</th><th>Inns</th><th>Runs</th><th>HS</th><th>Ave</th><th>SR</th><th>100</th><th>50</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">1</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Babar Azam</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">PAK</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">130</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">123</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">4234</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">122</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">39.57</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">128.77</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">3</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">36</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Rohit Sharma</td><td>IND</td><td>159</td><td>151</td><td>4231</td><td>121*</td><td>32.05</td><td>140.89</td><td>5</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Virat Kohli</td><td>IND</td><td>125</td><td>117</td><td>4188</td><td>122*</td><td>48.69</td><td>137.04</td><td>1</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Jos Buttler</td><td>ENG</td><td>144</td><td>132</td><td>3869</td><td>101*</td><td>35.49</td><td>148.97</td><td>1</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Paul Stirling</td><td>IRE</td><td>153</td><td>150</td><td>3710</td><td>115*</td><td>26.69</td><td>134.86</td><td>1</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Martin Guptill</td><td>NZ</td><td>122</td><td>118</td><td>3531</td><td>105</td><td>31.81</td><td>135.70</td><td>2</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">7</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Mohammad Rizwan</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">PAK</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">106</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">93</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">3414</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">104*</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">47.41</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">125.37</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">1</td><td style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">30</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>David Warner</td><td>AUS</td><td>110</td><td>110</td><td>3277</td><td>100*</td><td>33.43</td><td>142.47</td><td>1</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Muhammad Waseem</td><td>UAE</td><td>91</td><td>91</td><td>3184</td><td>112</td><td>37.02</td><td>151.76</td><td>3</td><td>25</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Aaron Finch</td><td>AUS</td><td>103</td><td>103</td><td>3120</td><td>172</td><td>34.28</td><td>142.53</td><td>2</td><td>19</td></tr></tbody></table></div> Stats: Cricinfo

Achieves the milestone in his 123rd innings, amassing 4,234 runs, just ahead of Rohit’s 4,231 scored in 151 innings.

Babar Azam becomes leading run-scorer in T20Is

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan spinner Asif Afridi has created a new world record, becoming the oldest player in history to claim a five-wicket haul on debut.&nbsp;The 38-year-old left-arm spinner returned figures of 6-79 against South Africa in Rawalpindi, surpassing a record that had stood for more than 90 years. The previous mark was held by England&rsquo;s Charles Marriott, who took five wickets on debut at the age of 37 in 1933.&nbsp;Afridi also became the sixth Pakistani spinner to achieve the feat, joining Mohammad Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Bilal Asif, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed.&nbsp;The late-blooming spinner&rsquo;s journey has been anything but ordinary. Afridi made his first-class debut back in 2009 but spent years outside the national setup. In 2023, he was handed a two-year ban for breaching the PCB&rsquo;s anti-corruption code, serving one year before his suspension was lifted.&nbsp;Returning to the field, Afridi&rsquo;s accuracy and deceptive sliders rattled South Africa&rsquo;s middle order. He struck early on Day 3, dismissing Kyle Verreynne for 10, before trapping Tristan Stubbs&#39; leg-before for 76 with a straight delivery that skidded on. He completed his five-wicket haul when Simon Harmer was hit on the back leg while attempting a sweep.&nbsp;South Africa, who resumed the day on 230-6, went on to score 404 runs, thanks to an 89-run innings from Senuran Muthusamy and a quickfire 71 from No. 11 Kagiso Rabada.&nbsp;Pakistan leads the two-match Test series 1-0 after winning the opener in Lahore last week.

Afridi also becomes the sixth Pakistani spinner to achieve the feat, joining Mohammad Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Bilal Asif, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed.

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