Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed was the star for the hosts as they thrashed the Netherlands by eight wickets in the first game of the three-match T20I series at Sylhet on Saturday (August 30). 

After Bangladesh chose to field first, the Netherlands were restricted to 136/8 in 20 overs. In reply, Bangladesh comfortably chased down the target in 13.3 overs after losing only two wickets. The Bangladesh right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed recorded his third T20I four-fer, as the visitors hardly managed to produce any strong battles.

See Also: Asia Cup Champions: Year-Wise Winners List

BAN vs NED 2025, 1st T20I: Taskin Ahmed dominated the Netherlands innings with his four-wicket haul

In the first innings, only the opener Max O'Dowd (23) and the no.3 batter Teja Nidamanuru (26) managed to score 20+ runs. After the Netherlands had a 25-run opening partnership, Taskin Ahmed took the first two wickets of the match by dismissing Max O'Dowd (23) and the slow-starting opener Vikramjit Singh (4). 

Five other Dutch batters managed to reach double-digit scores, but failed to reach the 20-run mark. In the late batting, Tim Pringle (16) and Aryan Dutt (13*) had some cameos to set a better-looking total, which was far from enough. In the Dutch innings, there were three 25+ partnerships, but none of those managed to stretch even the 30-run mark.  

With two more wickets in the slog over, Taskin Ahmed finished the game with the bowling figures of 4-0-28-4. Also, Mustafizur Rahman (1/19) and Saif Hasan (2/18) picked up one and two wickets, respectively. 

BAN vs NED 2025, 1st T20I: Captain Litton Das scored an unbeaten 50

In reply, although Parvez Hossain Emon (15) was dismissed quickly, the hosts comfortably chased the target. While another opener Tanzid Hasan scored 29 runs, he also had a 66-run partnership with the skipper Litton Das for the second wicket. Later, the captain and Saif Hassan quickly finished the game with a 46-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket. While Das scored 54 not out off 29 balls with six fours and two sixes, Hassan scored 36 not out off 19 balls with the help of one four and three sixes.  

South African prodigy Dewald Brevis produced a knock for the ages on Tuesday, August 12, lighting up the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin with a breathtaking 41-ball hundred in the second T20I against Australia. At just 22, Brevis became the youngest South African to score a T20I century and the fastest ever against Australia in the format.

Walking in at No.4, Brevis wasted no time announcing his intent. He dispatched Glenn Maxwell for his first six in the seventh over, and later tore into the Aussie all-rounder in the 12th, plundering 23 runs off five balls. Against an attack featuring Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, Brevis’s range of strokes left the home side helpless as he raced to three figures with eight sixes and nine boundaries. He finished unbeaten on 125 off 56 balls, powering South Africa to 218/7.

His whirlwind effort also made him just the eighth South African man to hit a T20I hundred, joining an elite list that includes David Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Faf du Plessis. Only Miller’s 35-ball blitz against Bangladesh in 2017 has been faster for the Proteas.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Aiden Markram pulls Josh Hazlewood for massive six during AUS vs SA 2nd T20I match

CSK’s Auction Gamble Looks Like a Golden Masterstroke After Brevis’s Record-Breaking Hundred

The innings drew instant praise from AB de Villiers, who couldn’t hide both his admiration and his envy over Brevis’s IPL allegiance. “There was such a golden opportunity for IPL teams to pick up Dewald Brevis at the auction! Missed out badly. CSK either got very lucky or maybe pulled off the biggest masterstroke ever. The boy can play,” de Villiers posted on X.

There was such a golden opportunity for IPL teams to pick up Dewald Brevis at the auction! Missed out badly. CSK either got very lucky, or maybe the biggest master stroke ever👏 The boy can play @BrevisDewald

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) August 12, 2025

A Royal Challengers Bangalore legend, de Villiers admitted he would have loved to see Brevis in RCB colours, but believes the youngster could be South Africa’s next “360-degree” batting sensation. Brevis, for his part, called it an honour to be compared to his idol but stressed his determination to create his own identity.

Brevis had already impressed in IPL 2025 with Chennai Super Kings, including a match-winning half-century against Gujarat Titans. Now, with a record-breaking T20I hundred against one of the toughest bowling attacks in the game, he has made it clear that his rise is only beginning. If CSK’s decision to sign him was seen as a gamble at the auction, it’s looking more and more like the kind of move that could define a season – and maybe an era.

Australia vs South Africa T20I 2025. Despite the ups and downs in their performance over the course of this virtual bilateral series, the two skippers are keen to kick start their team's campaign for this much hyped draft pick by winning only the second T20 match. They will be hoping for high-octane power-hitting, pin-point accurate bowling and some scathing rivalries.With both teams in the final stages of preparation ahead of the global T20 tournaments, this series takes on extra significance. South Africa will be hoping for a winning start in front of their home crowd, where experience complements youth really well. While Australia, on the other hand, are known to go hard in T20 cricket and will do just that from ball one. 

Match Details :

• Match: Australia vs South Africa, 2nd T20I, 2025
• Date: 12/8/2025
• Time: 2:45 PM
• Venue: Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin

Live Streaming & Where to Watch 

ALSO READ:AUS vs SA Dream11 Prediction 2nd T20I match Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI

AUS vs SA Probable Playing XIs:

South Africa Probable Playing XIs

Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

Australia Probable Playing XIs

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Australia vs South Africa T20I 2025. Despite the ups and downs in their performance over the course of this virtual bilateral series, the two skippers are keen to kick start their team's campaign for this much hyped draft pick by winning only the first T20 match. They will be hoping for high-octane power-hitting, pin-point accurate bowling and some scathing rivalries.With both teams in the final stages of preparation ahead of the global T20 tournaments, this series takes on extra significance. South Africa will be hoping for a winning start in front of their home crowd, where experience complements youth really well. While Australia, on the other hand, are known to go hard in T20 cricket and will do just that from ball one. 

Match Details :

• Match: Australia vs South Africa, 1st T20I, 2025
• Date: 10/8/2025
• Time: 2:45 PM
• Venue: Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin

Live Streaming & Where to Watch 

In India:

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 
• Telecast: Star Sports Network channels

In Australia:

• Telecast: Fox Cricket
• Live Streaming: Kayo Sports and Foxtel

In South Africa:

• Telecast: SuperSport, SuperSport Action (Channel 206), SuperSport Cricket (Channel 212), SuperSport Grandstand (Channel 201)
• Live Streaming: DStv app

In Pakistan:

• Live Streaming & Telecast: Tapmad

ALSO READ:The Hundred Men 2025: TRT vs NOS Prediction– 8th Match, Who will win today?

AUS vs SA Probable Playing XIs:

South Africa Probable Playing XIs

Aiden Markram (c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

Australia Probable Playing XIs

Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Travis Head, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Graeme Cremer, the ex-Zimbabwe captain and leggie, is back in the domestic cricket circuit in his country and is also available for international selection, seven years after his last game for Zimbabwe. The 38-year-old who captained Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018 is now up for consideration for a place at the T20 World Cup Africa Regional Qualifier at home in September.

Cremer last represented Zimbabwe in March 2018, prior to leaving the sport to pursue golf and the conducive lifestyle of the UAE, after relocating there with his family, where his wife Merna works as a pilot. Despite his time away from Zimbabwe, Cremer remained close to cricket via coaching, including a stint at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Dubai.

Back with a Bang in Domestic Cricket

The former international cricketer's return to the game has been nothing short of remarkable. Bacon currently plays for defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 in the 45-over National Premier League in Zimbabwe, and after just two matches, he has risen to the top of the wicket-takers' leader board. Cremer's return started on August 3 against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe, in familiar territory. He took 4 for 43 as Takashinga defended 263 for 6 to win comfortably by 134 runs.

“It’s amazing being back,” Cremer told 3-mob.com after the match. “Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team, and it was an amazing team environment.”

ALSO SEE: 3 strong reasons Sanju Samson should stay with Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026

Reuniting with Brendan Taylor

That match also saw Cremer reunited with close friend and former teammate Brendan Taylor, who scored 61 as he fine-tuned his own comeback after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code.

“We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again,” Cremer said. “Just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together, it really helps.”

Zimbabwe’s Eyes on Major Tournaments

Zimbabwe Cricket’s announcement of the return of two of their most experienced players comes with serious ambition. The Africa Regional Qualifier will take place from September 26 to October 4, with the participation of eight teams, with the top two teams qualifying for the T20 World Cup. 

Beyond that, Zimbabwe wants to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup, as well as the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. The team missed out on the previous global matches, including the most recent T20 World Cup, after a poor loss against Uganda, and have not appeared in a 50-over World Cup since 2015. 

With 23 Test matches and 69 limited-overs internationals under his belt, Cremer's experience and wicket-taking ability could inspire the rest of the side and push Zimbabwe into the major competitions again.

In August of 2025, the South African men's cricket team will be touring Australia for a white-ball series featuring three T20Is and three ODIs to make this a rare white-ball international cricket tour during the South African winter. The tour will be a critical preparation for both teams for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka in early 2026.

Match Schedule

Squads

Australia Squads

T20I Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

ODI Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

ALSO SEE: PCB lands out big statement amid rumored rift between key Pakistan players

South Africa Squads

T20I Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Rassie van der Dussen

ODI Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen

Where to Watch

• Live TV: Foxtel
• Streaming: Kayo Sports
• Radio: ABC Sport
• Online: Live updates and highlights on Cricket.com.au and the CA Live App

The T20I leg should be an exciting series where both Australia and South Africa work through their combinations for the World Cup. With Cummins and Starc not in the side now is the opportunity for Owen, Ellis, and Dwarshuis. South Africa is using the series to build experience for Dewald Brevis and Kwena Maphaka. Unusual venues like Darwin and Cairns add an element of fun to the series, and there will be plenty of local action and excitement as both teams prepare for global glory in 2026.

All in all, cricket lovers are sitting on treats for tons of T20 action as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE will vie in a tri-nation T20I series at Sharjah from 29 August to 7 September 2025. The series is a crucial precursor to the Asia Cup T20 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Why This Series Matters

This tri-series would be perfect for teams to test their combinations, adapt to conditions in the UAE, and build some momentum with the Asia Cup barely days away and ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board first scheduled a bilateral series between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but plans evolved into a tri-series with the UAE joining as hosts so that all three teams get meaningful exposure before the two big tournaments.

Full Schedule – T20I Tri-Series 2025

• All matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Context & Build-Up

• Pakistan is currently involved in a T20I series against the West Indies and will be eager to bounce back after a recent 2-1 series defeat to Bangladesh.
  
• Afghanistan return to T20I cricket for the first time since December 2024, when they edged past Zimbabwe in a tight 2-1 series.
  
• UAE, meanwhile, comes into the tournament high on confidence after upsetting Bangladesh in a historic home series win in May.
  

ALSO SEE: Lionel Messi could play cricket match alongside MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

T20I Head-to-Head – Pakistan vs Afghanistan at Sharjah

The opening game between Pakistan and Afghanistan promises fireworks, as the two teams have developed a fierce rivalry in recent years.

Eyes on the Asia Cup

The ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will begin on 9 September, just two days after the tri-series final, making this series crucial for selection decisions and tactical preparation.

Asia Cup 2025 – Group Stage Draw

Key matches:

• 9 Sept: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (Opening game)
  
• 12 Sept: Pakistan vs Oman
  
• 14 Sept: Pakistan vs India – Blockbuster clash
  

With three hungry teams, a balanced format, and familiar conditions, the tri-series in Sharjah is more than just a warm-up, it’s a dress rehearsal for continental and global glory. Expect high-octane cricket, emerging stars, and critical answers for selectors as the road to the T20 World Cup heats up.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) released the schedule for the 2025 edition of the tournament, ending weeks of uncertainty over the continental competition's fate. The marquee event, set to be played as T20Is, precedes the World Cup of the same format, slated to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka during the first quarter of 2026. Originally planned to be organised in India, the Asia Cup 2025 shall now be played in the Gulf region of the UAE, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Eight teams have been split into two groups of four, with arch-rivals India and Pakistan, notably, in the same pool. After the group fixtures, the international tournament will enter its 'Super-4s' stage, where the top two seeded teams from each pool contest against each other for a spot in the final, making it a quadrangular series. The competition commencing from Tuesday, 9th September, will witness its first round of an India-Pakistan clash on Sunday, 14th September. The neighbours are favourable to lock horns again, in the next round, on 21st September. The other teams contesting for the pinnacle of Asian Cricket are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong.

The lead-up to these announcements has been marred by immense controversies and geopolitical tensions. With the military stand-off between India and Pakistan occurring not too long ago, and the subsequent 'Operation Sindoor' by our Armed Forces, it was almost certain that the cricketing ties between the two nations might halt on an indefinite basis. They, anyway, have not played bilaterally on each other's soil since 2012, and the war against terrorism meant a sure stoppage of any match between them, even at a neutral venue in a multilateral competition. Secondly, the ever-growing scuffle at the eastern border between India and Bangladesh added an extra edge towards the cancellation of the tournament. This was evident when Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the ACC, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and their interior minister, scheduled an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka for the upcoming tournament against the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) wishes. The Indian cricketing officials were unwilling to travel there due to the strained political ties at the eastern front. They, however, attended it virtually, with the BCCI Vice President, Rajiv Shukla, logging in. It is worth knowing that the BCCI still holds the hosting rights for this year's competition.  

See Also: Can government cancel India vs Pakistan clash at Asia Cup?

Rest assured, after a stand-off and several deliberations, the Asia Cup 2025 is on course to be staged. Following that ceasefire in May, and as time passed, the previously agreed-upon understanding of India-Pakistan contests in multi-national tournaments was back on the table. Pakistan will be playing their matches of the upcoming women's World Cup to be hosted by India in Colombo. For the Asian Championship, the competition, in its current form, has been given the clearance by the BJP-led government and is confirmed to go ahead in the UAE. To remain commercially attractive, retaining its structure for a potential India-Pakistan game, on three occasions, including the final, is an absolute imperative. The revenue generated from the men's tournament might be insignificant for the well-off BCCI, but it matters quite a lot to all the other ACC member boards. Despite its relocation, the Indian board will retain gate receipts as the designated hosts.

The decision to proceed with the biennial event reflects cricket's commercial realities. Media rights for four Asia Cup editions (2024-31) are valued at approximately $170 million, mainly from the Indian market. A withdrawal from the 'Men in Blue' would have severely impacted the PCB and other Asian nations financially, as the fixtures between the neighbours drive the tournament's economic appeal. Given cricket's enormous financial stakes, both the Indian and Pakistani boards now view playing each other in neutral venues as the middle ground and the most pragmatic solution in the current scenario, since they have refused to travel to each other's countries, at least until 2027-28. 

The Asia Cups: Pakistan Cricket's need for survival -

India's boycott of Pakistan’s cricket team would sum up to a complete nightmare for broadcasters as a match between the two South Asian countries brings in phenomenal viewership due to the fierce historic rivalry between them. Data from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) estimates that the matches between them have generated a whopping $1.3 billion in the last 20 years, which is significantly higher than matches between other teams. Eliminating India-Pakistan games will impact the International Cricket Council's (ICC) and ACC's revenue, specifically considering the broadcasters' demand for both teams to be grouped in global and Asian events. Moreover, the boycott would also significantly slump PCB's economy, which is heavily dependent on the ICC and ACC funding. They expect to earn approximately $31 million this year, as revenue share, from the two cricket bodies. This underlines the fact that the money from these two major sources is extremely integral for the financial health of Pakistan Cricket. PCB claims that their total revenue for the 2023-24 fiscal year reached $35.3 million, a 40 percent increase from the previous year, and thus ranking them among the top three cricket boards in the world. 

ACC's 'Cricket First' mantra reaffirms its commitment to using cricket as a platform for spreading peace in the region. It says, "When crowds gather to witness the tournament's unforgettable clashes, it will be a great reminder of cricket's power to build bridges". On that note, the Asia Cup 2025, amid all its intricacies and uncertainties, promises to deliver quality cricket content among the avid supporters of the game.