The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a massive decision by denying the renewal of the contract of women’s national team head coach Muhammad Wasim, following a disappointing and poor outing in the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup in India. Pakistan went through a dismal campaign and failed to earn a single victory in their seven group-stage clashes.

Pakistan is currently in seventh position among the eight teams. They faced four defeats in seven fixtures, while three games against England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka ended in washouts at a net run rate of -2.651. They could slip further in the points table if Bangladesh somehow manages to win their final fixture of the event against India on October 26.

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The Times of India has leaked the insiders’ report of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who was unhappy with the team’s overall performance and their head coach, Wasim’s inability to improve in various departments of the game. Since his appointment last year, the former cricketer’s stint has been marked by several inconsistent performances and missed opportunities.

Pakistan set to sack head coach after poor Women’s World Cup 2025

Under Wasim’s guidance, Pakistan crashed out of the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka and managed to earn just one victory from four games at the Women’s T20 World Cup in the Rainbow Nation. Despite his background as a batter, Wasim was able to strengthen the team's batting unit, which remained the team’s weakest link in this global tournament.

Reports suggested that his working relationship with the support staff members was strained, and some of their decisions were unapproachable. The PCB is also exploring different options for appointing a foreign coach to lead the side and bring in a fresh perspective. An official announcement is expected to be made in the next few days, as the board will reset the direction of Women’s Cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan lost their opening campaign of the event against Bangladesh by seven wickets before facing an 88-run defeat against India. They also had the same fate against Australia and South Africa, losing those games by 107 and 150 runs respectively.

Mohammad Rizwan, the wicket-keeper batter of the Pakistan side, could have been dismissed through a hit-wicket dismissal on the last ball of the third day during the second Test against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. He made a massive mistake, which the umpires could have sent upstairs and ruled him out. 

On the last ball of the day, against the left-arm spinner of the Protea side, Keshav Maharaj, the Pakistan wicket-keeper drove the ball to the extra-cover region and dislodged the bails with the bat and started to walk towards the home dressing room, thinking that the umpire Sharfuddoula had called it ‘over’ before the moment took place.

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But the wicket-keeper of South Africa, Kyle Verreynne, wasn’t satisfied with the act and appealed to the umpire. He had an intense chat with both umpires, even though Sharfuddoula seemed not to be interested in the entire scenario. Pakistan had already been struggling with four wickets down for the second innings’ lead of 23 runs.

Watch: Mohammad Rizwan gets saved from controversial hit-wicket dismissal in PAK vs SA Lahore Test

In the first innings, the home side ended with 333 runs in 113.4 overs. Both Abduallah Shafique and their captain, Shan Masood, celebrated their respective half-centuries in the first innings along with Saud Shakeel, who cracked 66 runs. Salman Agha also notched up a fine knock of 45 runs in 76 balls with the help of five boundaries.

Rizwan clearly was hit wicket because ball was still in play. This actor should resist. I don't know why South Africans didn't appeal extravagantly. Umpires should at least have a look upstairs. pic.twitter.com/lhFgb1K7ys

— Mustafa (@mustafamasood0) October 22, 2025

In reply, the South African side got reduced to 235/8 in their first innings with the bat. But then came two fifty-run stands for the ninth and last wickets. Senuran Muthusamy recorded an unbeaten 89 runs in 155 balls at a strike rate of around 60 with eight boundaries, while Kagiso Rabada clubbed 71 runs at number eleven to get themselves over the 400-run mark.

In reply, Pakistan lost their three wickets quite early in the third innings of the clash. But later, Babar Azam took care of the last hour of the day. He remained unbeaten on 49 runs in 83 balls, scoring seven boundaries at a strike rate of 59.04.

Pakistan’s left-arm spinner, Noman Ali, has got his career-high rating and closed in on the top spot currently held by the premier Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, after making big strides in the ICC Men’s Test Bowler rankings. Noman collected the 10-wicket haul during their 93-run victory over the South Africa side at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and moved up four places.

The left-arm Pakistan spinner has now collected 853 rating points as he stays behind India's Bumrah by 29 points. He wasn’t the only player of the side to make the huge jump as their left-arm pacer, Shaheen Afridi, who just got his ODI captaincy, rose three places to 19th on the same list for the Test bowlers following his four-wicket haul in the second innings.

See Also: Mohsin Naqvi sends stern message to BCCI over Asia Cup 2025 trophy handover

ICC Test Bowling raking as of October 22, 2025

Noman Ali gets second spot after Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Test Bowlers’ ranking 

Pakistan players also made some ground on the ICC Test batters’ rankings following the good scores against the Proteas, as Mohammed Rizwan went up four spots to 16th, while Babar Azam has gone up two rungs to 22nd. Salman Ali Agha has also risen eight places in the charts, still headed by England’s veteran, Joe Root.

There are also changes in the ICC ODI rankings. Stand-in captain, Mitchell Marsh, has gained two places to improve to 42nd overall, while Josh Hazlewood has jumped six spots to move to 10th among the ODI bowlers.

India’s right-arm pacer, Mohammed Siraj, re-entered the rankings in the 17th position following his first ODI appearance in more than a year. Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz has risen six places to 18th after his efforts against the West Indies over the last week. Harry Brook has gained 18 places to move to equal 20th on the latest rankings for T20I batters.

India’s decision to refuse the pre-game gesture continues even after the 2025 season of the Asia Cup, where Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian T20I captain, decided to ignore such scenarios with Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha. Even after the conclusion of the competition, the Blue Brigade decided not to accept the trophy from the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

India’s Kabaddi team secured a decisive victory against Pakistan with a score of 81-26 at the third fixture of the Asian Youth Games. The encounter, however, earned massive attention for not just the gameplay but the pre-game incident where the Indian captain, Ishant Rathee, decided to decline the handshake gesture with his Pakistani counterpart during the toss.

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In this case, the captain of the Pakistan Kabaddi team extended his right arm, only to withdraw it after noticing his Indian counterpart’s indifferent expression. Although even after the end of the clash, both teams customarily shook hands. The Asian Youth Games 2025 mark a milestone as the first time Kabaddi has been included in the competition. Seven teams are participating in the round-robin format.

Watch: No pre-game gesture between India and Pakistan continues even after Asia Cup 2025

India currently hold the top position in the tournament standings, maintaining an undefeated record in three games. Iran has the rank in second place. The tournament’s final matches are scheduled to take place on October 23. The victory for the Indian Kabaddi team has solidified their position as a dominant force in the event, which also showcased their exceptional performance in all the matches till now.

 

 

 

 

 

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India beat Pakistan in the first group-stage encounter on September 14 by seven wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A week later, at the same venue, the Blue Brigade got the better of the arch-rivals by 41 runs in the Super 4 stage. The same occasion got repeated on the next Sunday in the final, where the Indian team earned the victory by five wickets.

India will now shift their focus to the away Australia series, which will start next week in October. This will be a great preparation for the side in a challenging series ahead of the next year’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB)’s spokesperson, Sayed Naseem Sadaat, revealed that the board has possessed obvious evidence, including the video footage, implicating the national team in an attack that killed the three local cricketers in Afghanistan’s Urgun district, as the incident has prompted the subcontinent side to withdraw from next month’s tri-nation T20I series. 

The statement has come after the government of Pakistan denied the reports of those cricketers being killed in an airstrike. The spokesperson has confirmed that the board has officially decided to withdraw from the upcoming tri-series, hosted by Pakistan, as Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) replaced them.

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“We got evidence that all the cricket fraternity and all the people around the world would have definitely watched our video report on the incident that was made by our media team. So we got the clear evidence that a Pakistani state did the attack.” Sadaat expressed during an interaction with ANI.

Watch: Pakistan’s role in killing three Afghanistan cricketers leaked in video footage to go viral

In a post, the Afghanistan Cricket Board reported that the attack had caused multiple casualties, including the three local cricketers- Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon- who were coming back home after playing a friendly game in Paktika province. The board considered it a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.

PAK ARMY bombed a civilian area in PAKTIKA AFGHANISTAN killing 6 young boys including budding cricket players.
Heartbreaking to say the least .
Afghanistan 🇦🇫 vs Pakistan 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/JB2aObPxkk

— KAFIR ON STEROIDS (@TammaraoPatil) October 18, 2025

“We call upon all the cricket boards to condemn such barbaric attacks because cricket is a game that carries the message of peace. Cricketers are peace ambassadors, and they should stay away from the war. War should not be interfered with in sports. So we call upon all the cricket fraternity and boards to condemn such attacks and keep cricket away from war.” Sadaat addressed the same discussion.  

Zimbabwe has since stepped in to replace Afghanistan in the tri-series, joining Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The series will begin on November 17 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with the home side facing Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka at the same venue. The remaining five games and the final will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially named Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain of the Pakistan men’s ODI team, succeeding Mohammad Rizwan. The announcement marks a major leadership change ahead of the upcoming international season.

According to reports from TimesofIndia.com, Rizwan’s removal was not purely performance-related but stemmed from internal disagreements with the board. The wicketkeeper-batter reportedly declined to participate in promotional activities involving betting companies, which created tension with PCB officials.

Rizwan, known for his strong values and principles, has often taken a stand on moral and ethical grounds. His refusal to endorse betting brands is said to have played a decisive role in the leadership shift. With Afridi taking over, PCB is aiming for a fresh direction, while Rizwan’s decision continues to draw mixed reactions from fans and cricketing circles.

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Reason of Rizwan’s Captaincy Snub:

A PCB insider revealed to TimesofIndia.com,” Rizwan had informed the PCB that he wouldn’t endorse betting companies, which is the main reason behind his sacking. He was against the PCB’s collaboration with surrogate betting firms.”

Earlier in the year, during his stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Rizwan declined to endorse a betting company. He opted to play without the primary sponsor’s logo, which represented a gambling brand, choosing to stay true to his personal beliefs.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif suggested that another possible reason behind Mohammad Rizwan’s removal as ODI captain could be his outspoken stance on the Palestine issue. Latif hinted that Rizwan’s strong public comments may have influenced the Pakistan Cricket Board’s final decision.

On his YouTube channel Rashid Latif said, “ If he has spoken about Palestine, will you remove him from captaincy? This mindset that there would be non-Islamic captains in an Islamic country is abysmal.”

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named Pakistan’s ODI captain for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, set to be held at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8.

His appointment was confirmed after a key meeting in Islamabad that included white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and several members of the selection committee. The decision reflects the board’s confidence in Shaheen’s leadership abilities as Pakistan looks to build momentum ahead of future international commitments.

Pakistan’s Leadership Puzzle Continues to Shift:

Since 2023, Pakistan cricket has seen constant captaincy reshuffles, with several players taking charge across formats under varying PCB regimes. The sequence began on March 13, 2023, when Shadab Khan was named skipper for the T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah during Najam Sethi’s tenure.

On November 15, 2023, Pakistan cricket underwent a major leadership change as Babar Azam resigned from captaincy across all formats. Under Zaka Ashraf’s administration, Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed T20I captain, while Shan Masood was entrusted with leading the Test side, marking a new phase in Pakistan’s leadership transition.

On March 29, 2024, Pakistan’s captaincy saga continued as Shaheen Afridi was removed from his white-ball leadership role by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Two days later, Babar Azam was reinstated as T20I captain to guide the team in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

However, Babar’s comeback didn’t last long. On October 1, 2024, he stepped down once again from white-ball captaincy. Soon after, Mohammad Rizwan took over the role on October 27, 2024, under the same administration. This frequent change of leadership highlighted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Pakistan cricket’s direction and stability.

The captaincy shuffle carried on into 2025, with Salman Ali Agha taking over as T20I captain on March 4, marking yet another leadership shift. Later, on October 20, 2025, Shaheen Shah Afridi reclaimed a leadership role, this time being appointed Pakistan’s ODI captain once again under Mohsin Naqvi’s administration.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked Mohammad Rizwan as their ODI captain, with the left-arm veteran pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, getting the responsibility. The decision was announced by the board shortly after the end of the opening day of the second Rawalpindi Test against South Afridi where both these two individuals were performing.

No reason has been handed in the statement for replacing Rizwan for Pakistan. The wicket-keeper batter hasn’t even be mentioned in the statement. The board decided after the meeting in Islamabad between the selection committee and the white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson.

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Rizwan’s removal was all but inevitable when the board put the statement over the weekend declining to confirm Rizwan as the ODI captain ahead of the white-ball leg of the Protea series. It however revealed that Hesson had asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, to arrange the meeting with the selection and advisory committee to appoint the new leader of the side.

Shaheen Shah Afridi named as Pakistan’s ODI captain ahead of South Africa series

Afridi’s last foray as the white-ball captain wasn’t a happy experience as he was asked to lead the T20I side for the series against New Zealand in January last year. They ended up losing it by 4-1 margin before he was replaced in similar circumstances to Rizwan’s sacking at the moment with the chairman pointedly refusing the statement of confirming that he would continue in the role.

Pakistan will now have three different captains across the formats with Shan Masood shouldering the responsibility of the longest format and Salman Ali Agha taking over the T20I leadership. Since becoming the ODI captain last year, Rizwan is four runs short of the highest scorer for the national side with an average of just under 42. He led them to series win in Australia and South Africa in 2024.

Afridi pulls on the good form in the format as he was their leading wicket-taker last year in ODI cricket. He was central to their away wins in the Rainbow and Australia. Since the start of the 2023 World Cup, no fast bowler from a Fill Member nation has more wickets than his 45, which have come at more than two wickets a game.

An young fan managed to breach the security at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during the first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa, as he was desperate to meet the star batter and former captain, Babar Azam, on his 31st birthday. The veteran is back in the national side after a long time as he was omitted from the shortest format for their tri-series and the Asia Cup 2025.

Footage from the ground displayed the young Pakistan fan climbing through the Majid Khan Enclosure and made his way towards the players’ area in the dressing room where a few members of the coaching staff were standing outside. They quickly spotted the boy and informed the security, who intervened and escorted the teenager despite his continuous request of meeting Babar.

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The Lahore-born has smashed 4300 runs in 110 innings of the longest format at an average of 42.57 and a strike rate of 54.37 with the help of 29 half-centuries and nine centuries at the best score of 196 runs. In ODIs, he has earned massive success of 6291 runs at an average of 54.23 with 19 centuries and 37 fifties.

Watch: Fan enters Pakistan’s dressing room to meet Babar Azam during PAK vs SA 1st Test

Pakistan batted first in the opening Test and posted 378 runs in the first innings. Both Salman Ali Agha and Imam-Ul-Haq missed the chance to record their respective centuries by seven runs. Both scores 93 runs at a strike rate of over 60 while both captain Shan Masood and wicket-keeper, Mohammed Rizwan, celebrated their half-centuries.

Unbelievable😳 Next Level Stardom of King Babar 👑 #Babarazam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/prgk9cZgWT

— 🇵🇸 عليّ (@_Aleeeeey) October 15, 2025

Apart from Tony de Zorzi’s 104 runs in 171 balls, none of the Protea batters were able to get a huge score. Ryan Rickelton smashed 71 runs in 137 balls as they were bundled out for 269. Pakistan experienced a poor batting performance in the second innings and posted only 167 runs in the second innings.

South Africa fell short of the target by 93 runs. Dewald Brevis cracked 54 runs at a strike rate of 100 with the help of six boundaries and two sixes. But that was too little to save them from going down for 1-0 in the two-match series.

Pakistan cricket mourned the loss of its oldest living cricketer, Wazir Mohammad, who passed away at the age of 95 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on Monday. His death marks the end of an era in Pakistan’s early cricketing history.

Wazir Mohammad was the eldest of the legendary Mohammad brothers, which included Hanif, Mushtaq, and Sadiq—each of whom made notable contributions to Pakistan cricket. Wazir Mohammad, recognized for his reliable batting and strong technique, featured in 20 Test matches for Pakistan from 1952 to 1959, becoming an important player during the early years of the nation’s cricketing history and laying the foundation for future success.

He was also the last surviving member of Pakistan’s inaugural Test squad, which played its first-ever Test match in 1952. Wazir’s passing not only closes an important chapter in Pakistan’s cricket legacy but also reminds fans of the remarkable contribution the Mohammad family made in shaping the nation’s cricketing identity.

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Who is Wazir Mohammad?

Wazir Mohammad was a resolute middle-order batsman, renowned for his solid defence and ability to anchor innings. His highest Test score came in the fifth Test against the West Indies at Port of Spain in 1957–58, when he batted for nearly seven hours to guide Pakistan to an innings victory. Earlier, he had top-scored with 42 not out in Pakistan’s famous 24-run win against England at The Oval in 1954, playing a key role in one of the nation’s early historic triumphs.

Wazir’s first-class career spanned from 1950 to 1964, during which he captained Karachi Whites to a close defeat in the 1963–64 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. In 1963, he was appointed captain of the Pakistan Eaglets, a team of young talent touring England; 14 of the 18 players from that squad went on to play Test cricket, and four later became Test captains.

Affectionately nicknamed “Wisden” for his encyclopedic knowledge of cricket statistics and trivia, Wazir also had a successful professional life as a banker, primarily with the National Bank of Pakistan, balancing both his sporting and professional commitments with distinction.

Mohsin Naqvi Extends Heartfelt Condolences to Wazir’s Family:

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi offered his heartfelt condolences to Wazir Mohammad’s family, honouring his remarkable service to Pakistan cricket. Naqvi praised Wazir’s lasting influence on the nation’s cricketing heritage and remembered him as one of the key figures who shaped Pakistan’s early cricketing identity.

After retiring from international cricket, Wazir Mohammad served as an advisor to the Pakistan Cricket Board before moving to the United Kingdom. Following in the footsteps of his renowned brothers, Wazir Mohammad was celebrated for his elegant batting, combining skillful technique with composure, earning admiration from fans and peers alike.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to take a significant step in keeping an eye on the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup. If their plan works out, then the competition can be more interesting. 

According to the latest speculations, PCB is likely to fix a T20I series with Sri Lanka ahead of ICC's elite tournament. As per reports, PCB is likely to arrange a tour to Sri Lanka to play a T20I series in January, ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup. If things go according to the plans, then these two Asian teams can play 3 T20I matches against each other during the possible tour.

The upcoming edition of the T20I World Cup is scheduled to be played in February 2026. India and Sri Lanka will be the joint hosts of the tournament. Before the competition, a series in Sri Lanka can prove very useful for the Pakistan cricket team for preparations. According to media reports, the T20 World Cup 2026 is likely to be held from February 7 to March 8.

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PCB's plan can made a significant impact 

India, the champion of the T20I World Cup 2024, will enter the tournament as the hot favorite to win the title again. On the other side, the Pakistan cricket team has been going through a transition phase and has experienced some turbulent situations in recent times. They showed some glimpses of brilliance during the Asia Cup 2025, but that was not enough to defeat India and win the title. Sri Lanka, who qualified for the Super Four round, also lacked consistency in the format. 

Ahead of the tournament, if Pakistan is able to prepare in the best possible way, then the tournament can be more competitive. As of now, the probable move by the PCB is looking brilliant on paper. It will be interesting to see how they can execute the opportunity.