The upcoming edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to get underway on February 19 with National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan hosting the opening game between Pakistan and New Zealand. However, the renovation work at the venue is yet to be completed.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to ring in changes in the national team's support staff. Although head coach Jason Gillespie is set to continue in his role for the two Test matches against South Africa, his assistant coach Tim Nielsen's contract has not been renewed.
The impasse over the Champions Trophy continues to stay as there is still no confirmation about the hosting of the tournament. Pakistan are the official hosts while India are not travelling there due to security issues and want to play their set to matches at the other venue.
Pakistan Super League is set to clash with the Indian Premier League from the next edition with the PCB viewing it as a better period for the players to be available. The player draft will be on January 11, much later than the previous drafts even as unsold IPL players are likely to be available.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had reportedly asked the ICC to implement the hybrid model for all of its global tournaments in India after the world cricket body pushed for the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan Shaheens were set to face Sri Lanka A in three one-dayers at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. However, due to the political protests in Islamabad, the last two matches have been postponed indefinitely. PCB will work with the Sri Lankan Board to finalise the dates of the two games.
The team that will finish as the table-topper after the double-league stage, will directly enter into the final, whereas the second and third-placed teams will take on each other in the Qualifier for the second berth.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that the top two teams of the National Women's Championship will feature in the final. The PCB had to curtail the tournament after a fire incident at a team hotel.
There were reports of Jason Gillespie being removed as the Test coach to appoint an all-format head coach. However, the PCB refuted the rumours on Sunday (November 18) and has now appointed an interim head coach for white-ball formats.
The drama surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy is not ending. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had stated that the trophy would be visiting destinations like Skardu, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. However, ICC has refused Pakistan from taking it to conflicted PoK cities.
Pakistan are scheduled to host the Champions Trophy next year from February 19 to March 9. But India's refusal to travel has put their hosting rights into jeopardy. Meanwhile, the ICC has sent the Champions Trophy silverware to Pakistan for an official Trophy tour.
“Unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy the current plan is to hold India’s matches in UAE and the final in Dubai. The Indian Cricket Board has told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is acceptable to them only if the final is held in Dubai," the PCB source told PTI.
The off-field battle between India and Pakistan has begun ahead of the Champions Trophy with BCCI making it clear that the team India will not tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB is now seeking its government's advice over the matter.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of India's decision to not to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The ICC has not relayed the message to the PCB.
Pakistan are set to tour Australia and Zimbabwe for two white-ball series next month. The PCB has decided to send two selectors - Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali to the two tours. The selectors will be responsible for selecting the Playing XIs of the team for the two series.
Former South Africa cricketer Gary Kirsten has resigned as Pakistan's white-ball head coach within six months after appointment. Interestingly, he couldn't coach Pakistan in a single ODI and resigned soon after their squad for Australia tour was announced.
Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the new captain of the Pakistan team in the white-ball format. Rizwan's first assignment as captain will be leading Australia in a three-match ODI series, followed by a T20I series.
Pakistan legspinner Usman Qadir last played international cricket in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou but failed to find a place in the T20I team in 2024 despite boasting an impressive record of 31 wickets in 21 innings.
Pakistan will be hosting England in a three-match Test series, starting from October 7 in Multan. The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the team's squad for the first Test of the series. Shan Masood has been retained as the skipper, while a 37-year-old spinner has been recalled.
Shan Masood has had a poor start as captain in the Test format as he has lost all five matches at the helm. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to stay with Masood as their captain for an upcoming Test series against England.
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