Cricket

Australia, the reigning T20 World Champions, have opted to bat first in the second match of their three-match T20 series against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The hosts are looking to seal the series after a dominant victory in the opening match in Brisbane.Australia's captain, Josh Inglis, expressed confidence in the wicket, stating that it appeared conducive to a high-scoring encounter. The hosts have retained the same lineup that secured their triumph in the first match.Pakistan, on the other hand, have made one change to their team. Haseebullah, a powerful hitter, has been replaced by left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem. Muqeem has limited international experience, having played only three T20Is for Pakistan's second-string side at the Asian Games in 2022.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has embarked on a trophy tour of Pakistan, despite the uncertainty surrounding the hosting of the Champions Trophy in the country. The trophy arrived in Islamabad on Thursday and will embark on a tour of major Pakistani cities, including Skardu, Lahore, and Karachi.The tour is intended to generate excitement for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 next year. However, the ICC is yet to announce the final schedule or comment on India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the event.The trophy tour has been met with mixed reactions. Some cricket fans have welcomed the opportunity to see the trophy up close, while others have questioned the purpose of the tour given the uncertainty surrounding the tournament.Former Test captain Moin Khan expressed his skepticism, saying, "What is the purpose of this trophy tour when no one really knows at which venues the tournament will be held and whether Pakistan and India will play against each other in the event?"The ICC is expected to make a decision on the hosting of the Champions Trophy in the coming weeks. If India does not agree to travel to Pakistan, the tournament could be moved to a neutral venue or even canceled altogether.The trophy tour is part of the ICC's efforts to promote the Champions Trophy and build excitement for the event. The tournament will feature the top eight ODI teams in the world, including Pakistan, India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.The Champions Trophy is one of the most prestigious events in international cricket. It was first held in 1998 and has been won by India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) faces a dilemma over the hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to send the Indian men's cricket team to Pakistan, citing security concerns. This has angered the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has the legal hosting rights for the event.The PCB is unwilling to accept a hybrid model, where some matches would be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as it has done so on multiple occasions in the past. The situation puts pressure on the ICC to find a solution.The ICC has three options:1. Convince the PCB to agree to the BCCI's hybrid model proposal, which would see five of the 15 games of the tournament being played in the UAE.2. Move the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan entirely, but this could lead to the PCB withdrawing its team's participation.3. Postpone the Champions Trophy indefinitely, which would have significant financial implications for both the ICC and the PCB.The PCB has hosted several top teams in Pakistan in recent years, including New Zealand, England, and Australia. It has also sought an explanation from the ICC over the BCCI's reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan.The PCB has been informed by the Pakistan government that the hybrid model is "off the table." The ICC is now facing a difficult decision that could have major consequences for the future of cricket in Pakistan.

In a thrilling T20I series opener in Brisbane, Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by 29 runs, despite a rain-delayed start that reduced the match to a seven-over contest.Veteran batter Glenn Maxwell showcased his exceptional form, smashing a blistering 43 off 19 deliveries to power Australia to an imposing 93-4. Openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short set the tone with an aggressive start, while Marcus Stoinis provided a late surge with an unbeaten 21 off seven balls.Pakistan's chase faltered under the lights as quicks Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis claimed three wickets apiece. Bartlett dismissed captain Mohammad Rizwan for a second-ball duck and Usman Khan in the same over, while Ellis accounted for Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris.Despite a late flurry from Abbas Afridi, who top-scored with an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls, Pakistan's batting order crumbled, finishing well short on 64-9.The victory marked a resounding performance for an Australia side missing several top players who are preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. Maxwell expressed his delight, saying, "We almost had our bags packed because we thought we wouldn't get a game in. We certainly had a lot of fun out there."The series now shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday before concluding in Hobart on Monday. Pakistan captain Rizwan acknowledged the challenges of playing in such a fast-paced match, saying, "It's difficult to keep things normal in this type of match because it went very fast."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come under scrutiny for its handling of the ongoing impasse surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy. The tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, has been thrown into jeopardy after India's refusal to travel to the country due to diplomatic tensions.Despite India's long-standing stance of not touring Pakistan, the ICC failed to anticipate the potential conflict when it awarded the hosting rights to the PCB. According to Cricbuzz, an unnamed "key official" criticized the ICC for not being more proactive in addressing the issue.The official pointed out that India's absence from the Champions Trophy was not raised as a concern in any of the 12 ICC Board meetings held since the tournament schedule was announced. This suggests that the ICC may have been complacent in its oversight of the situation.The PCB has maintained its position that it will not agree to a hybrid model for the tournament, similar to the Asia Cup last year where India's matches were played in Sri Lanka. The PCB insists that security is not an issue in Pakistan, citing the successful hosting of England and New Zealand recently.The ICC has yet to respond to the PCB's request for written confirmation from the BCCI regarding India's inability to travel to Pakistan. The governing body is reportedly discussing the schedule with participating teams, but no decision has been made.The PCB has also indicated that it is not willing to host the tournament outside of Pakistan, including in the UAE. This stance further complicates the situation, as the ICC may struggle to find an alternative venue that meets the requirements of all parties involved.The launch event for the Champions Trophy, which was scheduled to take place in Lahore, has been postponed indefinitely. This is a clear indication that the tournament is facing significant challenges and its future remains uncertain.

Pakistan Opts to Field First in Rain-Delayed T20I Opener Against AustraliaIn a rain-affected first T20I at the Gabba, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan elected to field first after winning the toss. The match, initially scheduled for a full 20 overs, was reduced to a seven-over contest due to persistent lightning and rain in Brisbane.Pakistan's batting-heavy lineup features the return of wicketkeeper-batter Sahibzada Farhan, who replaced left-arm fast bowler Jahandad Khan at the last minute. The pace attack boasts the formidable trio of Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf, while Babar Azam and Rizwan will open the batting.Australia's captain, Josh Inglis, echoed Rizwan's decision to field first. Their top five remains largely unchanged from the ODI series, with Adam Zampa as the specialist spinner and Tim David slotting into the middle order. Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson complete the bowling attack.The reduced format of the match means that only two bowlers can bowl a maximum of two overs each, while all other bowlers are restricted to one over. The powerplay consists of two overs.Australia:1. Jake Fraser-McGurk2. Matt Short3. Josh Inglis (capt & wk)4. Glenn Maxwell5. Tim David6. Marcus Stoinis7. Aaron Hardie8. Xavier Bartlett9. Nathan Ellis10. Adam Zampa11. Spencer JohnsonPakistan:1. Babar Azam2. Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk)3. Sahibzada Farhan4. Usman Khan5. Salman Agha6. Irfan Khan7. Abbas Afridi8. Shaheen Shah Afridi9. Haseebullah Khan10. Haris Rauf11. Naseem Shah

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif has expressed strong views on the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan in cricket. He believes that Pakistan should consider suspending all cricket matches against India and that the ICC should withhold hosting rights from both countries until their issues are resolved.Latif's comments come in the wake of the BCCI's refusal to send its team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The PCB has written to the ICC seeking written confirmation from the BCCI regarding India's inability to travel to Pakistan.Latif believes that Pakistan should take a strong stance against India's refusal to play in Pakistan. "If I would have been there, I would have taken this decision, and fought against the BCCI," he said.He also suggested that the ICC should stop giving major tournaments to both India and Pakistan until their issues are resolved. "In my opinion, ICC should withhold the hosting rights for both countries until these issues between them are resolved; until their problems are settled," he said.Latif criticized the BCCI's stance regarding security concerns for the Indian team in Pakistan, saying that the ICC's security team had assessed the country and deemed it safe. "This is the first time, I would say, the BCCI is at fault. The reason they are stating is very weak. It has to be in writing that the BCCI and the Indian cricket team is feeling threatened," he said.Latif expressed confidence that Pakistan cricket would not be hampered by a lack of matches with India. "We didn't play at home for 12 long years. What could be more painful than that? Pakistan will get the 34 million dollars in every eight-year time (from ICC), whether they play India or not. The boards that are rich will suffer losses, not a board like PCB that doesn't have the money," he said.

Australia's recent ODI series loss to Pakistan has sparked criticism, but the upcoming T20I series presents a different challenge. With a focus on building towards the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Australia is fielding a diminished side, providing opportunities for emerging players.Josh Inglis, the permanent wicketkeeper, will captain the team, while Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting. Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson will bolster the bowling attack.Pakistan, on the other hand, will seek to replicate their ODI bowling success, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf leading the charge. However, they may need to adjust their batting strategy, as Saim Ayub is not included in the squad.Tim David, Australia's T20 gun for hire, will be under scrutiny as he aims to regain his form as a finisher. Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, will also be in the spotlight, with his strike rate under examination.Australia will have at least three forced changes from their last T20I, while Pakistan is set to make at least five. The Gabba pitch is expected to provide pace and bounce for the fast bowlers, with the threat of rain and thunderstorms.

The Champions Trophy, a prestigious one-day cricket tournament, has been thrown into disarray by reports that India's men's team will not travel to Pakistan for the event next year. The tournament, which features the top eight ODI teams in the world, is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9.The International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of cricket, has confirmed that it has received an email from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stating that India will not be visiting Pakistan for the tournament. The PCB had previously rejected the idea of a hybrid tournament, in which India would play its matches at neutral venues.The PCB had anticipated a reciprocal gesture from India after Pakistan traveled to India for the ODI World Cup last year. However, India played its matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup in Pakistan last year, which was held under a hybrid format.The BCCI, India's influential cricket board, has refrained from commenting publicly on the matter. The BCCI has significant influence at the ICC, and its secretary, Jay Shah, is set to become ICC chairman next month.The absence of India from the Champions Trophy would be a major blow to the tournament. The matches between India and Pakistan are among the most watched events on the world sports calendar."If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren't there, and we need to protect them," said England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould last month.The ICC is now faced with the challenge of finding a solution that satisfies all parties involved. One option could be to move the tournament to a neutral venue, but this would likely be met with resistance from the PCB.Another option could be to allow India to play its matches at a neutral venue, but this would also be a compromise for the PCB.The ICC is expected to make a decision on the matter in the coming weeks.