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Australia

Pakistan beats Australia in first T20 to go 1-0 up in series

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Pakistan

LAHORE: Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first match of the three-match T20 series, taking a 1-0 lead. The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pakistan posted 168 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Saim Ayub was the standout batter with 40 runs, supported by Salman Ali Agha’s 39 and contributions from Babar Azam (24), Fakhar Zaman (10), and Usman Khan (18). Mohammad Nawaz remained 15 not out.

Pakistan’s start was shaky as Sahbazada Farhan was dismissed for 0 on the very first ball. However, Saem Ayub and Salman Ali Agha stabilized the innings with responsible batting and attractive stroke play.

Adam Zampa was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs, while Barrett and Beardman took 2 wickets each.

Chasing 169 runs, Australia struggled to keep up with the required run rate and finished on 146 for 8 in 20 overs. Cameron Green (36) and Barrett (34) were the main contributors, while Pakistan bowlers Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked 2 wickets each, and Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each.

With this win, Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.

Three Australian players made their T20 debuts: Mahli Beardman, Jack Edwards, and Matthew Renshaw.

This victory gives the Green Shirts a strong start in the series, putting pressure on Australia in the remaining two matches.

PCB announces Pakistan squad for T20 series against Australia

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PCB announces

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the national squad for the upcoming T20 International series against Australia.

For the three-match series, Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as captain, while Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have made their return to the T20 side.

The squad also includes Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Other players named in the squad are Mohammad Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Tariq, Khawaja Mohammad Nafi, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper).

According to the PCB, the Australian team will arrive in Pakistan on January 28, while all three T20 matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on January 29, January 31, and February 1.

The series is expected to attract strong fan interest as Pakistan prepares to face Australia at home in a high-profile T20 contest.

Babar Azam leaves BBL early to join Pakistan squad

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Babar Azam leaves BBL

LAHORE:Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has concluded his stint in Australia’s Big Bash League as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called him back to prepare for the upcoming T20 series against Australia. He will no longer be available for the remaining matches with the Sydney Sixers.

PCB officials confirmed that Babar’s early return was due to his national duties, and he is expected to report to the Pakistan team’s training camp shortly.

Speaking on his departure, Babar said, “It has been a great experience playing for the Sydney Sixers. I am grateful for the love and support of the fans. Now it’s time to focus on my national duties. Playing in the Big Bash has taught me a lot, and the memories will always stay with me.”

He added that he would continue to support the Sydney Sixers in their upcoming matches.

During his 11-match stint, Babar scored 202 runs, including 19 fours and 3 sixes. With his departure, all Pakistani players have now exited this season of the Big Bash League.

PCB’s Pakistan vs Australia T20 promo takes subtle dig at India, goes viral

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PCB’s Pakistan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a promotional video for the upcoming Pakistan vs Australia T20 series, featuring a subtle satirical reference to India that has quickly gone viral on social media.

The video highlights Pakistan’s hospitality and passion for cricket, showing an Australian passenger thanking a taxi driver who refuses payment.

When the passenger forgets to shake hands, the driver jokes, “Looks like you also visited the neighbors.” This lighthearted jab was widely interpreted as a playful reference to India.

In the promo, a character named Aga Ji says, “We are hospitable by nature, but when it comes to cricket, we are ready to compete.”

The three-match T20 series will kick off on January 29, with the second and third games scheduled for January 31 and February 1, all taking place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Australia closes 4.7 million social media accounts following under-16 ban

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Australia

Canberra: Following Australia’s groundbreaking ban on social media use for children under 16, platforms have reportedly closed 4.7 million accounts belonging to minors across the country.

The action comes just one month after the law came into effect on 10 December 2025, reflecting the swift and wide-ranging impact of the regulation.

According to Al Arabiya Urdu, Australia’s eSafety agency confirmed that social media companies have removed nearly 4.7 million accounts to comply with the new law.

Reuters reported that some platforms began deleting accounts weeks before the official enforcement date, in anticipation of the restrictions.

These figures represent the first official data on compliance, indicating that companies are taking serious measures to adhere to the law.

Violations of the law could result in fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 33 million) for companies, though children and their parents are not held responsible.

The total number of removed accounts has exceeded earlier estimates based on population data. Previously, Meta disclosed that it had removed approximately 550,000 accounts of minors from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.

PCB announces Pakistan-Australia T20 series

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PCB announces

LAHORE The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule for a three-match T20 series against Australia ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The series will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, with the first T20 scheduled for January 29, the second on January 31, and the third on February 1. The Australian T20 squad is set to arrive in Lahore on Wednesday, January 28.

The PCB described the series as a key preparation opportunity for both teams before the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 in India, where Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka.

This home series is expected to provide crucial match practice and help both teams fine-tune strategies ahead of the global tournament.

Pakistan to finalize squad for Australia, World Cup

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Pakistan to finalize

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to hold final consultations on the national squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the three-match home series against Australia later this week.

Sources said head coach Mike Hesson will return to Lahore after completing the Sri Lanka tour. Members of the national T20 squad are arriving back in Pakistan today following the series in Sri Lanka. Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha will meet with selectors to finalize the squad.

Once consultations are complete, the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, will approve the official squad announcement. The PCB has already submitted the preliminary names for the T20 World Cup to the ICC. Changes to the list can still be made before January 31 with ICC approval.

Probable Players:

The likely squad is expected to include captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan, and Abrar Ahmed.

Other potential inclusions are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza, and Khawaja Nafi. Reserve players may include Abdul Samad, Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Usman Tariq.

Australia unveils spin-heavy provisional squad ahead of T20 World Cup

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Australia unveils

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been named in a spin-friendly 15-man provisional Australian squad for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, despite injuries affecting their recent Ashes campaign.

Test skipper Cummins featured in only one of the five Ashes Tests against England in Adelaide, as he continues to recover from a lower back issue, while Hazlewood missed the entire series due to an Achilles injury.

Cummins is scheduled for another back scan later this month to determine his fitness for the tournament, which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Hazlewood and big-hitter Tim David (hamstring) are also on the comeback trail but are expected to be ready.

“Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well, and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup,” said chief selector George Bailey. He added that this is a preliminary squad and changes could be made ahead of the support period.

Left-arm spinners Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly are new additions alongside experienced tweaker Adam Zampa and part-timer Glenn Maxwell. Australia’s group-stage matches will be played in Sri Lanka, where spin-friendly pitches are expected.

In a surprise move, the selectors chose no backup wicketkeeper for Josh Inglis and no left-arm pace replacement for Mitchell Starc, who has retired from T20 internationals. The fast-bowling attack will be led by Cummins and Hazlewood, supported by Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis.

Australia will open their tournament campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. A separate squad will be named for a T20 series against Pakistan preceding the World Cup.

Provisional Squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

World welcomes 2026 with hopes of peace, stability and prosperity

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World welcomes 2026

The New Year 2026 has begun across several countries around the world, with people celebrating amid hopes for peace, stability and prosperity.

In New Zealand, spectacular fireworks lit up the sky over Auckland as the iconic Sky Tower became the center of New Year celebrations. A large number of citizens gathered around the tower to witness the dazzling display as the country rang in the new year.

Australia also welcomed 2026 with grand celebrations. In Sydney, a breathtaking fireworks show illuminated the Sydney Harbour, while hundreds of people gathered along the coastline to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Across the globe, countries marked the occasion with traditional and modern festivities. In South Korea, the new year was welcomed by ringing a traditional bronze bell, symbolizing hope and renewal. In the United Arab Emirates, a spectacular fireworks display was planned at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, one of the world’s tallest buildings.

Major global cities including New York, London and Paris are also set to host large-scale New Year celebrations, attracting millions of spectators.

In Beijing, a New Year tea party featured a traditional opera performance. Addressing the event, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that China would move forward with more proactive macroeconomic policies in 2026.

The celebrations reflected a shared global spirit of optimism as nations step into the new year with renewed aspirations for progress and harmony.

Drama in Ashes: Steve Smith pulled out 20 minutes before toss

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Drama in Ashes

SYDNEY: Australia suffered a major blow ahead of the third Ashes Test after star batter Steve Smith was ruled out due to an ear-related issue.

Cricket Australia confirmed that Smith failed a fitness test after experiencing discomfort in his inner ear and was forced to withdraw just 20 minutes before the toss.

Following the late development, Usman Khawaja was recalled to the squad at the eleventh hour. Khawaja replaced Smith in the playing XI and batted at number four.

Speaking at the toss, Australian captain Pat Cummins said Smith had made an effort to play on the morning of the match but did not feel fit enough to take the field. Cummins added that the team was fortunate to have an experienced player like Khawaja available to step in at short notice.

Australia went on to announce their playing XI for the third Test of the Ashes series. At the Adelaide Test, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.

Usman Khawaja played a crucial innings, scoring 82 runs off 126 deliveries, including 10 boundaries. Australia were struggling at 94 for four when Khawaja stitched together a vital 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Alex Carey.

It is worth noting that Khawaja had suffered a back injury during the first Test and was not considered for selection in the second and third Tests initially.

Australia currently lead the five-match Ashes series 2-0.