Apart from taking decisions to reinforce the team for all international formats, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly can take a massive step by changing the name of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. According to the latest information, the board has already initiated the process to change the name of the iconic stadium. 

According to claims on social media platforms, PCB has invited bids for the naming rights of the Rawalpindi Stadium. After the end of the process, the stadium can get a new name. 

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is one of Pakistan'smost iconic stadiums. The stadium opened in 1992, and then it hosted multiple memorable matches. It was the home ground of Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar. In this stadium, Babar Azam scored a memorable Test century in 2022 against Australia. It was the venue where PCB arranged Pakistan’s first-ever home test after the 2009 terrorist attack hiatus—a symbolic moment marking the return of international cricket to the country. In the past, the stadium has undergone significant upgrades in facilities, lighting, and pitch quality, keeping it relevant for the modern era of cricket. 

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Latest match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium 

Recently, the Pakistan vs South Africa Test match was held on the ground, where the home team lost the match against the touring team. Before the last match of the 2-match Test series, Pakistan was the frontrunner to claim the series, as they won the first game of the contest. In the second innings, the rivalry between those two teams was very close. On the turning wicket of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, South Africa did some splendid spin bowling and pushed the Pakistan cricket team on the back foot. 

Pakistan, in their second innings, scored only 138 runs in exchange for 10 wickets. South Africa needed only 68 runs to win the match, and they did it swiftly. After the match, the series ended with a 1-1 scoreline.

In a surprising move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed its current Test captain, Shan Masood, as the consultant for International cricket and the Player Affairs. It’s a role that could soon become the Director of International Cricket, which is a senior administrative role in the boards. The PCB is actively recruiting for the position of Director, as the applications are closing on November 02. 

The reports have claimed that Shan Masood could fill the role to replace the previous Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, who was appointed in May two years ago. He was suspended from the role in September last year. However, since then, there has been no official confirmation from the board on his employment status.

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The official statement of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is uncertain, as it is unclear about Masood’s specific responsibilities and how long he would be in the job for, or how it could affect his status as the captain and player of the national Test side. The decision has come just a day after the end of the two-match Test series against South Africa, which they ended with a 1-1 margin.

Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood gets new role in senior administrative role

Masood has been tight-lipped on the news. He has had the reins of the red-ball team for the last two years now, a period in which his position as the captain came under considerable scrutiny. He has won only one Test series against England last winter, but before that, he became the first Pakistan captain to lose a Test series against Bangladesh.

Masood’s tenure consisted of ten defeats and four victories, which included a drawn series at home against the West Indies and a whitewash in Australia (3-0) and South Africa (2-0). Pakistan finished the last WTC cycle with the wooden spoon.

Masood’s appointment as a consultant is really surprising, even by the standards of the administration. Over time, it will raise eyebrows about his playing future regarding some decisions he will make in the future. Their next red-ball assignment will be the two-match series against Bangladesh and the West Indies next year, before a three-match trip to England in August 2026.

The entire Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Islamabad will turn pink on October 28 during the opening T20I of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa. Due to the social responsibility, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to support the Pink Ribbon to create awareness about breast cancer.

The new initiative is a part of #PINKtober, which is a breast cancer awareness month. For the opening clash, the home side will wear the specially designed pink-themed kits to celebrate the special occasion, while the Proteas and the match officials will wear the pink ribbons in solidarity with the cause. The coaching staff and the commentators will also wear pink ribbons throughout the fixture.

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“The Pakistan Cricket Board takes immense pride in using the power and reach of cricket to create awareness about causes that affect our society. Through the Pink Ribbon campaign, we aim to highlight the importance of early detection and regular screening for breast cancer, which can save countless lives.” Sumair Ahmed Syed, the chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed.

PCB’s new initiative to celebrate breast cancer awareness during first T20I against South Africa

The stumps for the game in Rawalpindi will be branded pink. Commentators will share awareness messages during the live broadcast as well. It’s a partnership of the board with the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital located in Lahore. The visitors can also visit it for free examination and screening on October 28.

“This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility. We are grateful to both teams, match officials, broadcasters, and fans for joining hands in supporting this vital cause. Together, we hope to spread awareness and encourage meaningful action across communities.” Sumair Syed addressed.

“We are grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board for supporting Pink Ribbon through this special cricket match. This collaboration aims to raise national awareness about breast cancer and highlight the importance of early detection. Cricket unites our nation, and today, it’s uniting us for a life-saving cause.” Umar Aftab, the Pink Ribbon CEO, shed light.

The Multan Sultans’ owner, Ali Khan Tareen, has responded to the legal notice he has been sent by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). They have accused Tareen of violating several rules in their 10-year contract, as the PSL team ownership will expire next December, which marks the end of the event’s first decade.

Multan Sultans, one of the successful franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have revealed that the board threatened to backlist their owners. They also asked them to apologize publicly for criticizing the management of the league. Tareen raised his voice in his criticism of the management over the past year, particularly regarding communication issues.  

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“The PCB last month sent a legal notice to Multan Sultans, demanding that our owner, Ali Tareen, retract all recent critical statements and issue a public apology to the PSL management. The notice threatens termination of our franchise agreement and a lifetime blacklist of Mr. Tareen from owning any cricket team in the future.” Multan Sultan sent a statement.

Watch: Ali Khan Tareen laughs at Mohsin Naqvi’s PCB to tear their legal notice

In a video posted by Tareen on his ‘X’ account (formerly known as Twitter), he summarized the demands of the board before blaming the board’s approach to handling the disagreements. He accused the PSL officials of being surrounded by yes-men on every occasion and not willing to accept the criticism. He stressed that the league belongs to the fans and all of Pakistan.

The PSL Management has sent me a notice threatening to cancel Multan Sultans unless I offer them a public apology. Hazir Saeen. pic.twitter.com/yHWCcClXaD

— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) October 23, 2025

While Tareen’s legal advisors suggested against the apology, he went forward mocking the league for the sake of improving the franchise event. He reiterated his criticisms from the past regarding the unprofessional conduct and the frustration of the mismanagement. He also sarcastically lauded the lip syncing of the performers.

Tareen continued in the same tone and apologized for being 10 minutes late for a Zoom meeting, pointing out the flaws of the tournament logistically. He made a dramatic ending to the video by tearing up the legal notice, with a smirk of ‘I hope you like my apology video.”

The Asia Cup 2025 trophy controversy is still escalating, weeks after Team India defeated Pakistan in the tournament final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28.

This cricketing dispute shows no sign of resolution, particularly concerning the trophy presentation ceremony. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team famously refused to receive the Asia Cup silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who subsequently removed the winners' trophy from the stadium.

A significant governance standoff has erupted between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The immediate trigger is Naqvi's insistence on personally presenting the Asia Cup 2025 title to the Indian cricket team in Dubai on November 10, a date which coincides with the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting.

The BCCI is reportedly preparing to escalate the unresolved trophy fiasco to the ICC, maintaining that the presentation should follow established cricket protocol.

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“If you want the trophy, we can hold a ceremony where you can receive it. The ACC trophy rightly belongs to the Indian cricket team and is being held in trust until such time that the BCCI office holder, along with any available participating player, can collect it from the ACC president.” Naqvi’s decision has been addressed by Geo News.  

Asia Cup 2025 Trophy Handover: Mohsin Naqvi Confirms Date for BCCI & India

The controversy unfolded on the same evening of the final, where the men’s cricket team declined to collect their winners’ medals and trophy following their triumph in the final at the Dubai stadium on September 29. In the post-match presentation, the ceremony was delayed by an hour before a few players took their individual awards.

“Such a collection would, of course, be accompanied with much fanfare and coverage, as there should be no deviation from the established practices and no precedent should be set that undermines the spirit of the game we all love.” The news report addressed.

Kuldeep Yadav was later honored as the tournament’s top wicket-taker, while the opening batter of the Blue Brigade, Abhishek Sharma, earned the Player of the Tournament title for amassing 314 runs in seven innings at an average of 44.85. “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team won’t be collecting their awards tonight.” Presenter, Simon Doull, concluded the ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why did the Asia Cup 2025 final presentation ceremony face controversy?

The Indian team refused to accept the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi (who is also the PCB Chairman and a Pakistani minister) due to diplomatic tensions and his social media posts.

Who won the Asia Cup 2025 final and what was the result?

India won the final against Pakistan by 5 wickets. Pakistan was bowled out for 146, and India chased the target with 2 balls remaining (150/5).

Who was named Player of the Tournament?

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament for his consistent run-scoring (314 runs).

Who was the Player of the Match in the Final?

India's Tilak Varma was the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 69 runs.

Where is the Asia Cup 2025 winner's trophy now?

The trophy is currently with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dubai. ACC President Mohsin Naqvi has refused to send it, insisting a BCCI representative must collect it from him in person.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly called a joint meeting of the national selection committee and advisory board on Monday in Lahore. In a statement, the PCB confirmed that Mike Hesson, the head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball teams, had written to Naqvi asking for the meeting to discuss ODI team matters and captaincy.

According to PTI, the meeting suggests that Hesson might push for a change in captaincy as part of his plans. However, it remains to be seen whether his suggestions will be accepted by the PCB officials in Lahore.

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No Decision Yet on ODI Captaincy

“No decision has been taken on the ODI captaincy. The chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has asked the selectors and advisors to meet on Monday to discuss the matter,” the statement said.

There are rumours that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, or Salman Ali Agha — who led Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final — could replace Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain.

🚨 CANDIDATES FOR ODI CAPTAINCY 🚨

- Babar, Shaheen & Agha are in contention for the ODI captaincy.

- Rizwan is also unlikely to be part of the ODI squad if he’s removed from captaincy. (Sohail Imran) pic.twitter.com/kTKN6r59PU

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) October 18, 2025

PCB Officials to Discuss Captaincy Options

The selectors’ panel includes Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Aleem Dar, and Azhar Ali, while the advisors are former Test players Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikander Bakht. Sarfaraz and Sikander directly report to Naqvi and advise him on all cricket matters.

Rizwan, who has been out of Pakistan’s T20 setup since December 2024 along with Babar Azam, led Pakistan to ODI series wins in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. However, the team’s form dipped during the home tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.

The struggles continued, as Pakistan lost back-to-back ODI series in New Zealand and the West Indies. Pakistan will now host South Africa for a three-match ODI series on November 4, 6, and 8 as part of their ongoing tour.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the three-nation tri-series for the shortest format will go on as scheduled from November 17 to 29 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, despite the decision of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to withdraw from the series. The PCB is currently in talks with other boards to find a replacement for the series.

Afghanistan decided to pull out of the tournament following their claim that the three cricketers died in Pakistan’s army attack in Paktika province. PCB is trying to find either Zimbabwe or one of the associate nations, like Nepal or the UAE, as the potential replacements for the tri-series.

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“The tri-series will progress as scheduled even after Afghanistan’s withdrawal. We are looking at a replacement team, and once finalized, the announcement will be made. The tri-series features a third team in Sri Lanka, so it’s on from 17th November.” The senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed, as quoted by the Times of India (TOI).

PCB reveals plan to replace Afghanistan for home T20I tri-series involving Sri Lanka

Neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan has featured in a bilateral series against each other since the former gained Test status, although their A-side has toured that part of the world in the past. The relationship between the two cricketing boards has been strained recently. During a tri-series in Sharjah before the Asia Cup, including the Asia Cup, their spectators were seated in separate enclosures to prevent potential conflicts.

In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November. The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province.” The ACB revealed in a statement on the tri-series.

Pakistan is currently playing their two-match Test series at home against South Africa before shifting their focus to the white-ball formats. The next challenge will be the tri-series.

On Saturday morning the entire cricket world was stunned to know of the deaths of three local cricketers of Afghanistan. It is reported that the 48-hour ceasefire was violated by Pakistan on Friday evening. The Taliban claimed that Pakistan initiated a fresh airstrike that claimed the lives of three cricketers. In protest of the incident, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to boycott the tri-nation tournament in Pakistan, involving Sri Lanka.

After ACB's decision not to take part in the tri-nation series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) now has to make a final call on the tournament, which is scheduled to be held in November. According to fresh reports, PCB is in search of another team to replace Afghanistan. Teams like England, Australia, and South Africa will not be available for that time frame, as they will be busy in other competitions. England and Australia will play for the Ashes, while South Africa is scheduled to travel to India. According to some recent claims on social media platforms, Zimbabwe is likely to replace Afghanistan in the tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

"In this heartbreaking incident, three players (Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon), alongside 5 other fellow countrymen from Urgun District, were martyred, and seven others were injured. The players had earlier traveled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to participate in a friendly cricket match. After returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering," ACB informed this through their social media post. 

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"In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November," the statement further read. 

Pakistan Cricket Board has to take a call on the upcoming tri-nation series

Afghanistan cricket star Rashid Khan labelled the action made by Pakistan as immoral and barbaric. He supported ACB's decision to withdraw from the tournament. 

"It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed. In light of the precious innocent souls lost, I welcome the ACB’s decision to withdraw from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. I stand with our people at this difficult time; our national dignity must come before all else," Rashid Khan said. 

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), on October 18, announced that they have decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming tri-nation T20I series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to take place in late November. They were supposed to travel Pakistan to feature in the tri-series and face the hosts on November 17.

However, the ACB stated that they had taken the decision to postpone the trip in response to the tragic incident where the Pakistan Army targeted their three players, Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Harron, along with five other fellow countrymen from Urgun district. They were martyred while seven others were injured.

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“In response of this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November. The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province” The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revealed in a statement.

Afghanistan withdraw from participating in T20I series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan

The last face-off between the two sides came in Sharjah during the tri-series where they met in the final. Afghanistan failed to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the recent Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan lost the final to India in Dubai and ended as the runners-up. The left-arm pacer of Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and their T20I captain, Rashid Khan, expressed their emotion on the tragic incident.

“The martyrdom of the civilians and our domestic cricket players by the oppressors is an unforgivable crime. The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.” Farooqi wrote on his Facebook page.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.” Rashid Khan wrote on X. It will be interesting to see if Afghanistan shake hands with Pakistan in the ICC events.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to withdraw from the upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka, involving Pakistan next month, following the killing of three local cricketers in an attack, as the board confirmed. They revealed that the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, to participate in a friendly encounter.

The ACB has stated it as ‘a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime’ as the players were attacked during a gathering after their return to Urgun. They have identified three players as ‘Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon’ and added that five other players had also been killed in the attack as no further details were provided.

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“In response of this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November.” The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) expressed in a statement.

Three Afghanistan players attacked by Pakistan Army on border in Paktika

The Afghanistan board considers it as a great loss for the sports’ community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. It added that the decision to withdraw from the next months’ tri-series was made as a gesture of respect to the victims.

“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. The ACB also extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the martyrs and to the people of Paktika Province.” The ACB board addressed in the same statement.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage. It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed.” The T20I captain of the Afghanistan side, Rashid Khan, noted on his X account (formerly known as Twitter).