Pakistan is set to host the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup, with plans to use a hybrid model where matches involving India will be played in the United Arab Emirates. The ICC announced the tournament dates, and the Pakistan Cricket Board aims to host all other games, including knockout stages not featuring India, potentially boosting women's cricket in the country.
Former Pakistan captain Shan Masood is racing against time to recover from a calf muscle injury ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. His place in the playing XI is uncertain, especially with selectors and coach Mike Hesson looking to introduce younger players into the Test squad for the next World Test Championship cycle. Masood, who had an unsuccessful run as Test captain, fears his injury might be used as a reason to sideline him.
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan set a new record for the most runs in a bilateral three-match men's T20I series with 238 runs, despite his side suffering an eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the final match in Rawalpindi. Farhan scored his third consecutive half-century, surpassing India's Abhishek Sharma's previous record.
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan has been allowed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to resume playing domestic cricket, despite an ongoing inquiry into allegations of online betting and leaking dressing-room information. Rizwan, along with Imam-ul-Haq, was previously barred from playing and has appeared before the National Cyber Crime Cell (NCCA) for questioning, with his phone seized for forensic examination. A reliable source indicates the inquiry is cooling down and could conclude soon.
Sri Lanka has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan. Kusal Mendis will captain the side for the first time in Tests, taking over from Dhananjaya de Silva. The series, part of the WTC cycle, begins November 9 in Pakistan.
A Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander was killed in a joint operation by security forces and a local peace committee in the Bannu district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday. The operation was based on intelligence inputs regarding militant presence. The region has seen recurring militant violence, especially since the TTP ended its ceasefire in November 2022.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed profound sadness over the passing of Bollywood icon Nana Patekar, with whom he shared a close friendship for over three decades, describing him as a 'dear friend, a brother' and a 'living legend'.
Pakistan's experienced batter Fakhar Zaman believes the team can end its long wait for an ICC trophy at the 50-overs World Cup next year. He highlighted the team's serious approach, extensive discussions, and preparations, including an upcoming tri-series, to build a winning combination. Zaman also distinguished white-ball plans from recent Test struggles.
Pakistani cricketers will not receive their central contracts until after the ongoing ODI tri-series and potentially the Test series against Sri Lanka. The delay is due to head coach Mike Hesson and selectors wanting to assess player performance in current matches and the domestic season before finalising the new specialised format contracts.
Pakistan has withdrawn from the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026, scheduled to be held in Punjab, with Bangladesh named as their replacement.
Former Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir has expressed his excitement for the India-Pakistan clash in the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, emphasising the importance of quality cricket. He highlighted the immense pressure from fans in such encounters, drawing from his own experiences of thriving under pressure while playing against India, including in the IPL and on bilateral tours. The article also notes the historical head-to-head record and details of the upcoming 2027 World Cup fixture.
Given the current friction in ties, such a visit looks unlikely at this juncture.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced significant changes to its T20 leadership, dropping Salman Ali Agha as captain and appointing Sahibzada Farhan. The board also named squads for upcoming T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka and England, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining ODI captaincy.
Abhishek Sharma's 61 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 powered India to 211/6 before Hasan Nawaz's 96 fell short as Pakistan lost by 19 runs.
World champions India, featuring a strong line-up of T20 stars, are set to face Pakistan in the men's gold-medal cricket clash at the Asian Games, a match where a silver medal would be considered a 'royal embarrassment' for India.
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to secure the gold medal in the Asian Games cricket final, a match that passed without any major controversy despite the ongoing diplomatic tensions and the conspicuous absence of customary handshakes between the teams.
Defending champions India secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Games hockey semifinal, thanks to a last-minute goal by Abhishek. India initially led 3-0 but allowed Pakistan to stage a comeback, scoring three goals to level the score before Abhishek's decisive strike with just 45 seconds remaining. The win sends India to the final, though their second-half performance raised questions.
India defeated Maldives 1-0 in their Group B match at the SAFF Championships, securing a spot in the semifinals. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half. India, fielding a young squad, needed a draw or win to qualify.
A historic gurdwara in Lahore, Pakistan, Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, has reopened for religious worship after being closed since the Partition in 1947. The reopening ceremony, attended by Sikh community members and officials, marks the end of a 79-year hiatus and is part of broader efforts to preserve Sikh religious heritage in Pakistan.
Defending champions India need only a draw against Maldives in their final group match of the SAFF Championships on Wednesday to secure a spot in the semifinals. Despite using a second-string squad, India aims for a comprehensive victory and improvement in team coordination, following their opening win against Pakistan.
India posted a formidable total of 211 for six against Pakistan in the men's cricket final at the Asian Games, driven by explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28 balls) and Tilak Varma (unbeaten 51 off 22 balls).
Pakistan batter Hasan Nawaz expressed his disappointment over losing the Asian Games gold medal match against India, citing "small mistakes" as the reason for their defeat. Despite scoring 96 runs in the final, Nawaz felt the team could have won and highlighted the challenge of playing against India. He also spoke about his personal comeback and future aspirations in cricket.
India's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, secured a dramatic 4-3 semifinal victory against Pakistan at the Asian Games, despite squandering a 3-0 lead and facing disciplinary issues. Harmanpreet emphasized the need for composure and avoiding silly mistakes against strong opponents, while Manpreet Singh highlighted the coach's advice to focus on the game, not the occasion. The team acknowledged defensive vulnerabilities but remained confident for the final.
India-Pakistan clashes in cricket and hockey drew big audiences at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, helping fuel stronger viewership and a 20% revenue rise.
India's head coach Craig Fulton expressed relief after the defending champions secured a dramatic 4-3 victory against Pakistan in the Asian Games hockey semifinal. Despite leading 3-0, India allowed Pakistan to equalise before clinching a late winner. Fulton highlighted defensive lapses, missed opportunities, and a loss of composure, stressing the need for improvement before the final.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has received over one million ticket applications for the ODI World Cup 2027, with the India vs. Pakistan match being the most sought-after, attracting over 100,000 applications. Other high-demand matches include South Africa vs. India and India vs. Australia. The tournament will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 2 to November 21 next year.
The Indian cricket team faces a dilemma regarding shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts in the Asian Games final, a practice they have avoided in recent Asia Cup and ICC events since 'Operation Sindoor' last year.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson acknowledges India as the benchmark in white-ball cricket but expresses confidence in his team's ability to challenge them at the Asian Games. He also defended Pakistan's T20 performance, highlighting their improved ranking and series wins, while downplaying captaincy speculation for Sahibzada Farhan.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is being considered for a significant role within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the board plans a major overhaul of its cricket think tank following a dismal tour of England.
The Indian men's volleyball team's hopes of ending a 40-year medal drought at the Asian Games were crushed after a 0-3 defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan in the quarterfinals. India, despite an all-win record in the group stage, failed to secure a podium finish.
Experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan is expected to take over Pakistan's T20 captaincy from Salman Ali Agha, who faces removal from the shortest format squad. Major changes are anticipated in the Pakistan T20 team ahead of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, with young players being prioritised and key bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf potentially rested.
Defending champions India are set to face arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-stakes men's hockey semifinal at the Asian Games. The winner of the gold medal will secure a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ayush Badoni has replaced Rajat Patidar in the India A squad for the upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup due to Patidar's injury. Rinku Singh has also been appointed as the vice-captain for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29.
A football team from Karachi, en route to a tournament in Quetta, was robbed at gunpoint by insurgents on a Balochistan highway. The incident occurred despite official warnings about the region's security situation, highlighting the dangers faced by travellers.
Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi will not attend the Asian Games 2026 gold medal cricket match between India and Pakistan due to prior commitments. His absence helps avoid a potential protocol conflict given the ongoing tensions with the BCCI regarding trophy presentations.
India's assistant coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar emphasised the importance of winning crucial moments ahead of the Asian Games gold medal cricket match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Drawing on his own experience from the 1998 Independence Cup final, Kanitkar stated that while the hype is significant, players must focus on their game and aim for a second successive Asiad gold for the country's medal tally.
CDSCO has warned consumers against using two unauthorised Pakistani whitening creams after finding excessive heavy metals and regulatory violations.
Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton revealed that the tough semifinal victory against Pakistan was crucial in preparing the team for their dominant 5-1 win over Malaysia in the Asian Games final. This victory secured India's gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics. Senior player Hardik Singh also expressed relief and pride in the team's performance after a disappointing World Cup.
We have to perform in both batting and bowling, Axar Patel says ahead of India's Asian Games 2026 cricket final against Pakistan on Saturday.
Pakistan volleyball captain Murad Jehan expressed frustration over logistical mismanagement at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after his team was taken to the wrong venue, leaving them short on warm-up time and forcing players to change on the bus.
