LAHORE: South Africa were dismissed for 269 in their first innings of the Lahore Test, giving Pakistan a commanding 109-run lead heading into the second innings.
Resuming on the third day at 216 for six in reply to Pakistan’s 378, the visitors lost their remaining wickets in the morning session.
Tony de Zorzi, who started the day unbeaten on 81, completed a well-made 104 before being caught by Shaheen Afridi off Nauman Ali. Senuran Muthusamy, who resumed on 6, added only five more runs before falling to Sajid Khan for 11.
Kagiso Rabada was dismissed without scoring, also by Sajid Khan. Pakistan’s spinners dominated the innings, with Nauman Ali claiming six wickets, Sajid Khan taking three, and Salman Ali Agha picking up one.
Earlier, Pakistan had posted 378 in their first innings, with key contributions from Imam-ul-Haq (93), Salman Ali Agha (93), Shan Masood (76), and Mohammad Rizwan (75).
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army team secured a gold medal at Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2025, held in Wales, United Kingdom, from October 3 to 13, marking the 66th edition of the world-renowned military competition.
The exercise has retained its demanding professional standards; patrols from all across the globe had to move tactically across inhospitable terrain, covering a distance of 60 kms within 48 hours, completing specialist tasks in a contested environment.
This year, 137 teams from 36 Countries participated in the exercise and out of all these teams, Pakistan Army’ Team lead by Captain Muhammad Saad showed Exceptional Performance in the exercise and awarded with the gold medal.
It is indeed a proud moment for the whole Nation and Pakistan Army which is known for its professionalism and highest standards of training. Pakistan Army has always held Country’s flag high and will keep endeavouring in future as well.
LAHORE: Despite a promising start from the middle order, Pakistan were bowled out for 378 in their first innings as South Africa fought back on the second day of the first Test in Lahore..
Resuming their overnight score of 313 for five, Pakistan began the day with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 62 and Salman Ali Agha on 52. The pair added valuable runs before Rizwan was dismissed for 75 with the total at 362.
In the same over, Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan were both sent back to the pavilion without scoring, as Senuran Muthusamy claimed all three wickets in quick succession to restrict Pakistan’s lower order.
Salman Ali Agha naros fell to the nineties and was dismissed for 93 while Shaheen Shah Afridi was dismissed for 7 runs.
South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamytook six wickets while Prenelan Subrayen took two wickets. Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer took one wicket each.
LAHORE: Pakistan, under the leadership of Shan Masood, will take on defending champions South Africa in a two-match Test series as part of the fourth cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27.
The first Test begins on Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where Pakistan is expected to field seven batters, two fast bowlers, and two spinners.
Right-arm spinner Sajid Khan has been ruled out due to viral fever and will be replaced by Asif Afridi, who earns a place in the playing XI. The 38-year-old left-arm spinner has taken 198 wickets in 57 first-class matches at an average of 25.49. Asif will partner with experienced spinner Nauman Ali in Pakistan’s bowling attack.
The 39-year-old Nauman Ali has claimed 83 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 24.75. In fast bowling, Shaheen Shah Afridi makes his return to Test cricket after a year-long absence.
The left-arm pacer, who has taken 116 wickets in 31 Tests, will share the new ball with Hasan Ali. Hasan, a right-arm fast bowler with 80 wickets in 24 Tests, last played a Test in January 2024 against Australia in Sydney.
Pakistan’s opening pair will feature Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique, while Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Ali Agha will strengthen the middle order. Mohammad Rizwan will keep wickets.
Pakistan’s Playing XI for the first Test:
Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, and Asif Afridi.
Charlottesville, Virginia – October 3, 2025 – In a display of sheer dominance, Pakistan’s prodigious squash talent Noor Zaman has marched into the semifinals of the Charlottesville Open 2025, captivating fans worldwide with his blistering form on the PSA World Tour. The 21-year-old U23 World Squash Champion dismantled Egypt’s third seed Yahya Elnawasany in a clinical straight-games victory (11-9, 11-9, 11-9) during the quarterfinals, clocking just 35 minutes of intense rally play.
This triumph marks another milestone for Noor Zaman squash sensation, who is riding high after clinching the Nash Cup 2025 title in Canada just days ago. There, he stunned the No. 2 seed in a thrilling 3-0 final (19-17, 11-7, 11-9), solidifying his status as one of the most searched Pakistan squash players in 2025.
Unstoppable Run: From Round of 16 to Semifinal Glory
Zaman’s path to the last four of the $31,250 PSA Charlottesville Squash Open has been nothing short of spectacular. Earlier in the tournament, the eighth seed overcame England’s Tom Walsh in a hard-fought 3-1 quarterfinal qualifier (13-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5), showcasing his resilience and tactical prowess. Against Elnawasany, Zaman’s precision and court coverage left little room for error, edging out razor-thin margins in each game to secure his spot.
Fellow Pakistani contenders faced tougher fates: Muhammad Asim Khan fell 3-0 to top seed Timothy Brownell in the Round of 16, while Muhammad Ashab Irfan was edged out 3-1 by India’s Veer Chotrani. Despite the early exits, Zaman carries the hopes of a nation, continuing Pakistan’s storied legacy in international squash tournaments.
Other quarterfinal highlights included England’s Sam Todd’s 3-0 rout of Argentina’s Leandro Romiglio (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) and Egypt’s Salman Khalil’s gritty 3-1 comeback over India’s fourth seed Velavan Senthilkumar (12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3). Brownell, the American No. 1, advanced with a 3-1 win over Chotrani (11-6, 9-11, 11-1, 11-6) in 41 minutes, setting up a blockbuster semifinal showdown.
The Road Ahead: Zaman vs. Brownell – A Battle for the Ages
All eyes now turn to the Charlottesville Open semifinals on October 3, where Noor Zaman faces formidable top seed Timothy Brownell. This clash pits the young Pakistani phenom against the home-crowd favorite, promising high-octane action in the PSA World Tour Copper event. Zaman, a nominee for PSA Men’s Young Player of the Year, enters with momentum from his World Under-23 Squash Championship gold in April 2025, where he made history as Pakistan’s first men’s U23 winner.
Born in Peshawar and standing at 180cm, the grandson of squash legend Qamar Zaman has quickly risen to No. 1 in Pakistan’s national ranks. His partnership with PTCL Group underscores his growing global profile, making him a hot topic in squash news 2025.
Fans can catch live updates on the PSA Squash TV platform, with the winner advancing to the final against the victor of Todd vs. Khalil.
Why Noor Zaman is Dominating Squash Searches in 2025
As Pakistan squash continues to shine on the world stage, Noor Zaman’s exploits have spiked interest in squash results and PSA events. His blend of power, agility, and mental fortitude positions him as a future world No. 1 contender.
The Asia Cup 2025 final ended not only with India defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets, but also with a dramatic controversy that has now become the talking point of world cricket.
In an unprecedented move, the Indian cricket team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is currently serving as both Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman. The decision overshadowed India’s victory celebrations and has raised serious questions about politics and sports clashing once again..
Trophy Ceremony Drama
The trophy presentation ceremony in Dubai was delayed and later concluded without the winning side formally lifting the cup. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav told media that his team was effectively “denied the trophy,” calling the situation “unbelievable in international cricket.”
Indian players did receive their individual awards like Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, but there was no acknowledgment of Naqvi during the ceremony. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed it will register a formal protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Naqvi’s role in the event.
India’s Strong Response
The BCCI announced a ₹21 crore cash reward for the team, independent of the Asia Cup prize money, signaling that India considers the victory legitimate despite the missing trophy. Meanwhile, BCCI officials said they would push the ICC to ensure such situations are not repeated in future tournaments.
Pakistan’s Reaction
On the other side, Pakistan expressed disappointment over India’s decision. Pakistan captain Salman Agha accused India of “disrespecting cricket traditions,” while former captain Shoaib Malik warned that the move would “haunt India” in future competitions.
Political Tensions Spill Into Cricket
This controversy did not emerge overnight. Throughout the Asia Cup, Indian players avoided handshakes with Pakistani counterparts, reflecting the tense political climate between the two nations. Earlier this year, military skirmishes had already strained relations, and this latest episode shows how politics continues to influence the cricketing stage.
What’s Next?
The ICC is expected to review the matter in its next meeting. For now, India’s win on the field remains undisputed, but the trophy refusal has sparked a debate on whether cricket administrators should keep political rivalries out of sporting traditions.
