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Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Unpicked to unstoppable: Farhan powers United's charge in PSL 10
Sahibzada Farhan, Islamabad United's in-form opener, has been one of the standout performers in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season. Despite going undrafted in January, Farhan forced his way into the squad after a stellar National T20 Cup campaign, where he amassed 605 runs in seven matches at a staggering strike rate of 189.66 and an average of 121. His tally included three centuries and two fifties for the Peshawar Region. Sahibzada Farhan joins Islamabad United after stellar National T20 performance In the ongoing PSL, Farhan has continued that form, scoring 245 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 161.18, including a match-winning century and a half-century. Speaking exclusively to PCB Digital, Farhan reflected on his journey. 'I had performed well in the National T20, and I knew there were still places available in the teams,' he said. 'I would like to give credit to Islamabad United for picking me first.' Asked about the secret behind his recent consistency, Farhan said, 'I've been performing for the last four years, especially in four-day cricket over the past two seasons. In the last year, I've also been among the top performers in the One-Day format. I've been working on improving my strike rate, and if I get the opportunity to play for Pakistan again, I want to maintain that intent at the international level.' Islamabad United target back-to-back PSL titles with proven formula On the role given to him by Islamabad United, Farhan added, 'They've given me a free hand to play my natural game. Sometimes, Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha guide me in the nets, but I focus on executing the shots I've already worked on in previous events.' Reflecting on his first PSL century—scored against Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi on April 14—Farhan said, 'I was confident from the beginning that I could get a century this season. I had set my sights high, and I believe that was one of my best innings. I'm hoping to repeat that performance in the coming games.' Farhan also spoke about rejoining Islamabad United, a team he previously represented in 2018 and 2019. 'Islamabad United isn't a new side for me. I know Shadab both as a player and a captain. I'm enjoying my time here and trying to improve my batting every day.' Currently topping the points table with 10 points from six matches, Islamabad United has won five games in PSL X, with their only loss coming against Lahore Qalandars on Wednesday night at Gaddafi Stadium, ending a five-match winning streak. Despite their strong position, Farhan emphasised that the team is not taking anything for granted. 'We're not going to relax after five wins. The tournament is still wide open, and our focus is firmly on qualifying for the playoffs.'
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for 5-match T20I series in May instead of 3 after schedule tweak
In preparation for the upcoming ICC Men's T20I World Cup in May 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a five-game T20I series against Bangladesh. The five games, scheduled over the space of 9 days, will commence on May 25th and conclude on June 3rd. The series is part of the Future Tour Programme (FTP). While the FTP originally comprised of thee ODIs and three T20Is. However, in light of the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, both the Bangladesh and Pakistan Cricket Boards have agreed to swap the 3 ODIs for two T20I games. The five games are set to played in two venues, at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The first two games will be played in Faisalabad, where a total of 16 ODIs and 24 Test matches have been played in the 30 years between 1978 and 2008. The first and second matches are scheduled for the 25th and 27th of May respectively. More recently, Iqbal Stadium has hosted the National T20 Cup in March and the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup in September 2024. The venue welcomes back International cricket after a long 17-year absence. The last International game played at the venue was between the two sides set to play each other in a month's time, in April 2008. The other three games will all be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the first game there is scheduled for the 30th of May, followed by games on the 1st and 3rd of June. As per the Pakistan Cricket Board's official website, all fice games are scheduled to commence at 8 PM. The Bangladesh Cricket team is set to arrive on the 21st of May and will start training sessions at Gaddafi Stadium from 22nd to 24th of May.
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Bangladesh to play 5 T20Is in Pakistan next month
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Bangladesh will tour Pakistan in May for a five-match T20I series. The series, which is part of the Future Tour Programme (FTP) originally consisted of three ODIs and three T20Is. However, with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup scheduled for next year, both the boards have mutually agreed to replace the ODIs with two additional T20Is, the cricket board said in a statement. The five-match T20I series will be played in Faisalabad and Lahore from 25 May to 3 June. Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, which successfully hosted the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup in September last year and National T20 Cup last month, will stage the first and second T20Is of the series, scheduled on 25 and 27 May, respectively. Iqbal Stadium, which has previously hosted 24 Tests and 16 ODIs between 1978 and 2008, will welcome back international cricket after a 17-year hiatus. The historic venue's last international fixture was an ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in April 2008. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium will host the remaining three T20Is, scheduled on 30 May, 1 and 3 June. All five matches will begin at 8pm. Bangladesh team will arrive on 21 May and will undergo training sessions at the Iqbal Stadium from 22 t0 24 May. Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I series schedule 21 May – Bangladesh men's team arrival 25 May – First T20I at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (8pm local time) 27 May – Second T20I at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (8pm local time) 30 May – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8pm local time) 1 June – Fourth T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8pm local time) 3 June – Fifth T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8pm local time)
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Nida Dar announces break from Pakistan cricket to focus on mental health
Listen to article Former Pakistan women's cricket team captain Nida Dar has announced a temporary break from all forms of cricket to focus on her mental health, following what she described as a period of personal and professional challenges. The 38-year-old all-rounder made the announcement on social media late Thursday, appealing for privacy as she steps away from the game. 'A lot of things have happened in the past with me personally and professionally and this has affected my mental health,' Dar wrote. 'For this reason, I am taking a break for a while from cricket to focus on myself. Please respect the privacy. Thank you. #respect.' Dar, one of Pakistan's most experienced players, has represented her country in 130 T20 Internationals and 99 One-Day Internationals. Known for her consistency and leadership, she had recently returned to training in preparation for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Faisalabad. However, she did not make the final 15-player squad after failing to meet fitness benchmarks. In addition to stepping away from international contention, Dar has also withdrawn from the upcoming National T20 Cup, choosing instead to take a complete break from competitive cricket. Her decision comes as the Pakistan women's team celebrated a successful qualifying campaign for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, securing five straight wins and defeating Bangladesh by seven wickets in their final match on April 19 at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground. While lauding the squad's performance, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that the national women's team will not travel to India for the tournament, in line with a previously agreed 'hybrid model' similar to that adopted for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy. 'Pakistan will not travel to India, as this formula has already been agreed upon,' Naqvi stated during a visit to the LCCA Ground.
Express Tribune
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Hasan Ali eyes national team comeback
Karachi Kings' vice-captain Hasan Ali has expressed his confidence about returning to the national side after an impressive performance in the ongoing PSL X. "My job is to perform. I want to represent Pakistan again - not just to be in the team, but to contribute to wins," he said. "I want to help Karachi Kings lift the PSL X trophy." The 30-year-old said he was pleased with his recent performances, crediting his hard work at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for the turnaround. "I'm quite satisfied with my personal performance. I worked really hard at the NCA to overcome the shortcomings in my bowling. I made technical adjustments and re-modified a few things, which are now yielding results - first in the National T20 and now in the Pakistan Super League (PSL)," he said. He highlighted his persistence during challenging times and how domestic cricket played a crucial role in his comeback. "Even when I was dropped, I went back to domestic cricket, performed well, and earned my place back. That's always the path - performance is the only way back." "The PSL gives us the opportunity to share dressing rooms with international stars, but domestic cricket is equally important. It's a platform where you can truly refine your skills," he said. Hasan admitted that he has matured both as a person and as a player over the past year and a half. "With time, a person changes. Half of my career has passed, and now that I'm a senior player, I should carry myself accordingly. There's a time to enjoy, but there's also a time to fulfill responsibilities. The learning process never ends," he concluded. Sahibzada Farhan aims for permanent spot in national team Islamabad United's opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, has expressed his determination to transfer his impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and National T20 Cup into international cricket. In a conversation a local news channel, the 29-year-old cricketer clarified that his goal is not just to make a comeback to the national team but to secure a permanent place in the squad. He stated, "My aim is not just to play a couple of matches and make a comeback. Whenever I return to the national team, I want to make a permanent spot for myself and play for a long period." Sahibzada Farhan had an outstanding performance in the last National T20 Cup, scoring 605 runs in 7 innings, which included 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries. His stellar performance in the domestic tournament played a key role in him securing a place in Islamabad United after being overlooked in the PSL draft. Farhan revealed that his initial century in the National T20 Cup boosted his confidence, saying, "My goal was to perform well in the tournament and attract the attention of PSL teams." Rejecting the perception of being just a domestic performer, he emphasized, "People used to say that I only score runs in domestic tournaments, but my performance in PSL should be enough to silence them because PSL is a top-tier league, and performances here carry immense value." Acknowledging the challenges of making a place as an opener in the national team, Farhan pointed out the abundance of talented openers in the squad. However, he stressed that players should not be judged solely on the basis of two or three matches; consistent chances and performance are key to securing a spot in the team. Farhan also expressed his ambition to score more centuries in PSL, stating, "My aim is to score at least one or two more centuries this PSL so I can break the record for the most centuries in a year. I don't settle after one or two innings; I want to play an important role in helping my team win."
