Category: Sports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly planning to dissolve its men’s selection committee in the coming days as part of a major revamp, in line with the new direction being set for the national team under the leadership of Mike Hesson.

The current selection committee was formed in October 2024 and includes former cricketers Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, veteran umpire Aleem Dar, and data analyst Hassan Cheema. This group was authorised to select the squads and final playing elevens, unlike before, when the captain and head coach also had input. However, reports now suggest that some members may soon be removed from their roles.

Reports claim that Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Aleem Dar are likely to be dismissed as part of the new changes. The PCB, however, has not yet officially announced their replacements or any removal.

Mike Hesson, who was involved in picking the squad for the recent Bangladesh series, may take on a bigger role. The new selection committee could only include Hesson, Aaqib Javed, and Hassan Cheema moving forward.

Earlier, the PCB had also removed the mentors who were part of the Champions Cup.

Australia has confirmed its white-ball tour to Pakistan, scheduled for early next year.

Todd Greenberg, the new CEO of Cricket Australia, shared his thoughts during an online press conference, saying, “I believe this will once again be a good tour of Pakistan. The series against Pakistan is an important part of our schedule. There has been good communication between Australia and Pakistan regarding both red-ball and white-ball series.”

He added, “We are looking to find more opportunities for series, which we definitely will. We want to play a series in Pakistan. In 2022, after a long gap, we toured Pakistan, and that tour was very successful. The Australian team received a warm welcome, and it would be great if more series like that happen.”

Greenberg also spoke about the Big Bash League (BBL), stating, “We will welcome as many Pakistani players as possible in the BBL. Without a doubt, Pakistani players are very popular in the community. We aim to attract players from around the world for the BBL.”

He continued, “If leading Pakistani players come, they will definitely enjoy playing here. The presence of top players benefits the league, their teams, and franchises. Discussions regarding Pakistani players are currently ongoing, and I am hopeful that we will secure the participation of a few players for the next edition of the BBL.”

Australia last toured Pakistan in 2022, marking their first visit in 24 years.

Pakistan’s women’s cricket team will play their matches in the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Sri Lanka instead of India. The decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, with both sides continuing to avoid playing matches on each other’s soil.

Earlier this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a hybrid model allowing teams in joint tournaments, including the Champions Trophy, to play matches in a neutral third country instead of the host nation.

Under this model, Pakistan’s group matches in the Women’s World Cup 2025 will be held in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. These matches include key fixtures against teams like India and England. Should Pakistan advance to the semi-finals or finals, those matches will also be hosted in Colombo.

Meanwhile, the Indian city of Bengaluru will host the tournament’s opening match and possibly the final, provided Pakistan does not reach the final. Other Indian host cities include Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam.

Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister clearly announced in April that the national women’s team would not tour India this year. According to him, it is up to India to decide where Pakistan’s matches will be held.

The tournament is scheduled to run from September 30 to November 2. Australia, the current world champion, won the previous Women’s World Cup after defeating England in the final.

However, experts have raised concerns about hosting matches in Sri Lanka, considering that October is among the most humid months in the country, and frequent weather disruptions may impact the flow of the tournament.

Historically, Pakistan and India have only faced each other in ICC or Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, even before recent diplomatic tensions. The situation escalated when India refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, choosing instead to play its matches in Dubai.

South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a memorable seven-year journey with the Proteas. 

After retiring from red-ball cricket in 2024., the 33-year-old shared the news on Monday, saying he will no longer play white-ball cricket for South Africa.

Klaasen said it wasn’t an easy decision, but one he made after careful thought about his future and his family.

“It is a sad day for me as I announce that I have decided to step away from international cricket. It took me a long time to decide what was best for my family and me in the future. It was truly a very difficult decision but also one that I have absolute peace with,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

He wrote, “From the first day, it was the biggest privilege representing my country, and it was everything that I had worked for and dreamed about as a young boy. I have made great friendships and relationships that I will treasure for life. Playing for the Proteas gave me the opportunity to meet great people who changed my life, and to those people, I can’t say thank you enough. My road to wearing the Proteas shirt was different than most, and certain coaches in my career kept believing in me. To them, I will always be grateful.”

“To have played with the Proteas badge on my chest was and will always be the biggest honour in my career. I look forward to spending more time with my family, as this decision will allow me to do so. I will always be a big Proteas supporter and would like to thank everyone who supported me and my teammates during my career.” he added.

Many in the South African cricket community praised Klaasen for his contributions. Director of National Teams and High-Performance Enoch Nkwe said Klaasen had the power to change the game quickly and always gave his best to the team.

“Heinrich has been a true match-winner for South Africa. He was a player capable of changing the course of a game in a matter of overs,” said Nkwe. “His commitment and impact in the white-ball formats have been immense, and we thank him for his outstanding service to South African cricket.”

Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki also thanked Klaasen for being a great role model.

“Heinrich has been a fantastic ambassador for South African cricket, both on and off the field. His performances in the green and gold have brought joy to many South Africans, and his legacy will undoubtedly inspire the next generation,” said Moseki.

Heinrich Klaasen made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2018. He played 60 ODIs and scored over 2,000 runs, with an average close to 44. One of his most memorable performances was a stunning 174-run knock against Australia in 2023, which became the second-highest score by a number-five batter in ODI history.

In T20 Internationals, he played 58 matches and had a strike rate of 141.84. Klaasen was known for his aggressive batting and his ability to dominate spin bowlers. His fearless style made him a key player in South Africa’s white-ball teams throughout his career.

The Women’s Emerging Asia Cup, scheduled to begin on 3 June in Sri Lanka, has been quietly postponed, amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India.

While no formal statement had been made earlier by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), it was widely believed that the lack of Indian interest played a key role in the postponement. However, on June 2, 2025, the ACC officially confirmed that the tournament had been rescheduled.

According to an ACC press release, the decision was made following a letter from Shammi Silva, President of Sri Lanka Cricket, to ACC President Mohsin Raza Naqvi. The letter cited adverse weather conditions in Sri Lanka and health concerns due to the spread of the chikungunya virus as reasons for seeking a postponement.

“The ACC is committed to providing opportunities for young women cricketers to develop their skills and compete at the highest level,” said Mohsin Raza Naqvi. He added that the ACC understands the strategic significance of the tournament and will work to reschedule it at the earliest possible date.

Recently, PCB official Salman Naseer met with ACC officials in Dubai to discuss tournament arrangements. Meanwhile, sources say the ACC’s next major challenge is organising the Men’s Asia Cup in September, which is scheduled to be hosted by India.

So far, the ACC has not announced new dates for the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup but has assured that all stakeholders, including teams and commercial partners, will be updated soon.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his immediate retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs), confirming he will now focus solely on the T20 format for Australia.

The 36-year-old revealed his decision during an in-depth interview on the Final Word Podcast, citing the physical demands of 50-over cricket and a serious leg injury sustained in 2022 as key reasons for stepping away from the format.

“I just felt like my physical condition was starting to let the team down,” Maxwell explained. “I told the selectors that I’m not looking at the 2027 World Cup. It’s better to give younger players a chance to prepare for that position.”

He added that he didn’t want to occupy a spot in the squad without merit. “I never wanted to sit in my place if I wasn’t capable of performing. I didn’t want to be selfish and hang around for just a few more series.”

Maxwell’s ODI career concludes with 149 matches, 3,990 runs at an average of 33.81, and 77 wickets. His strike rate of 126.70 is the second-highest in history among batters who have scored over 2,000 ODI runs.

One of the iconic moments of his career was during the 2023 World Cup against Afghanistan, when he single-handedly rescued Australia from 91 for 7 with an unbeaten 201, despite battling severe cramps and effectively batting on one leg. It was not only Australia’s first-ever double century in ODIs but also the first double hundred ever scored in a run chase.

Maxwell is expected to continue playing T20 Internationals at least until the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Lahore Qalandars’ owner Sameen Rana has slammed critics who questioned Sikandar Raza’s loyalty after Pakistani all-rounder Imad Wasim suggested that “money can do anything” in reference to the Zimbabwean star’s PSL heroics.

Speaking on a podcast, Sameen Rana passionately defended Raza, calling him one of the most selfless and committed players the franchise has ever had. “The most important thing is, it really hurts me when people talk like this,” Rana said. “Sikandar is the only person who has never discussed categories with me till today. Never talked about money or categories, from the first year till now.”

Rana revealed that Raza has always prioritised paying overpayment, even when approached directly. “Whenever I call him and say, ‘Sikandar, I don’t have a category,’ he says, ‘Sameen bhai, I don’t talk about this topic.’ And now people are saying about him that money can do anything? Come on, yaar.”

The strong reaction came after Imad Wasim’s appearance on a talk show, where he praised Raza’s stunning last-over performance in the PSL final but also made a pointed comment. “Yes, money can do things for you. If you get paid, you will come,” Imad said while acknowledging Raza as a match-winner and a committed team man.

Raza’s PSL final performance has been widely celebrated by fans. Arriving at the stadium just 10 minutes before the toss, after a whirlwind 24-hour journey from England, he played a match-winning cameo for Lahore Qalandars. Needing eight runs off the final three balls, Raza sealed the title with a six and a four, remaining unbeaten on 22 off seven balls.

He had just played a Test match for Zimbabwe against England and travelled across multiple cities, from Birmingham to Dubai, then to Abu Dhabi, and finally to Lahore, showcasing his dedication to the game and the team.

Raza himself reflected on the chaotic travel itinerary and the honour of playing professional cricket, saying, “I had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, and drove to Abu Dhabi for lunch. I took a flight and had dinner in Pakistan. This is the life of a professional cricketer. I’m truly humbled and blessed to have this life.”

This was Lahore’s third trophy in PSL history, all three coming under Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy, making him one of the most successful captains in the league.

Securing a dominant victory in the third and final T20 International at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan on Sunday completed a 3-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh.

After winning the toss, skipper Salman Ali Agha, elected to bowl first. 

Bangladesh openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain made a solid start, taking the score to 56 without loss in the powerplay. Hossain top-scored with 66 runs off 34 balls while Tanzid Hasan contributed 42 off 32 balls. Bangladesh ended their innings at 196 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs.

Pakistan’s Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi claimed two wickets each, whereas Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan picked up a wicket apiece.

Chasing a target of 197, Pakistan had a shaky start as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed early with just eight runs on the board. However, Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub steadied the innings with a strong partnership. The duo took the score to 100 before Ayub was dismissed after scoring a quick 45 off 29 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours.

Haris continued with his aggressive approach, launching a brutal assault on the Bangladeshi bowlers. He smashed seven sixes and eight fours for a 107-run knock that came off of just 46 deliveries. Hasan Nawaz chipped in with 26 off 13 balls while Salman Ali Agha remained not out on 15.

Pakistan chased down the target comfortably in just 17.2 overs, losing only three wickets in the process.

Already having won the first two matches, Pakistan had secured the series before Sunday’s final game.