Abbas Afridi leads Pakistan’s young guns to Hong Kong Sixes 2025 as fans eye redemption after two runner-up finishes.

Abbas Afridi Leads Pakistan Squad to Hong Kong Sixes 2025

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Pakistan thumped Sri Lanka in a dominating fashion to win the T20I Tri-Series final at Rawalpindi. The home team chased down a modest target of 115 runs for the loss of just four wickets to lift the Tri-Series trophy. Babar Azam remained their star batter in the second innings, as he made an unbeaten 37 runs to steer the chase of the Pakistan team.

Sri Lanka tried hard to defend their low total, however, Pakistan managed to complete the chase comfortably. A strong opening batting by Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan gave Pakistan a solid base, which was later capitalized by Babar Azam to seal the deal for the green team.

Batting first, Sri Lanka came into the field with an ambition of posting a big total. Their opening onslaught also indicated their plans, as Kamil Mishara completely dominated the Powerplay by smashing Pakistan bowlers positively. Due to his batting, Sri Lanka got off to a flyer, scoring 56 runs in the first six overs of the match.

He scored a brilliant 59 runs off just 45 balls, smashing 2 fours and 4 sixes. The dismissal of Mishara ultimately disturbed the batting plans of Sri Lanka. The middle order batters completely failed in today&rsquo;s match, as they looked clueless in front of Pakistan spin attack. Due to this, all the hard work done by Mishara went in vain, as Sri Lanka collapsed quickly during the middle overs.

Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed bowled superbly in the middle phase of the first innings to strangle the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Nawaz claimed three wickets, while Abrar took two, giving Pakistan a clear advantage over Sri Lanka.

Capitalizing on these gains, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/shaheen-afridi-breaks-silence-on-odi-captaincy-change/2202-5-0">Shaheen Shah Afridi</a> came up with a fine spell in the death overs. He made sure to clean the tail of the Sri Lankan batting quickly, allowing Pakistan to restrict the visitors on a low total. As a result, Sri Lanka managed to score just 114 runs in the first innings, courtesy of a great comeback by the Pakistan bowling lineup.

<h2>Babar Azam Leads Pakistan in Smooth Chase of Target</h2>

When Pakistan came out to bat, they started the chase confidently. The duo of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan made sure to not give early wickets, as the Rawalpindi pitch was not looking conducive for aggressive batting.

Struggling to play shots on a difficult pitch, Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed in the 8th over after scoring 23 runs. His departure brought superstar batter <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/babar-azam-aims-for-world-cup-triumph/2480-5-0">Babar Azam</a> to the crease, who quickly assessed the pitch conditions. He then built a steady partnership with Saim Ayub by rotating the strike effectively.

As the target was quite low, Pakistan managed to keep things under control. Even after the wicket of Saim Ayub, Babar kept playing calmly to keep the chase on track. Due to his masterful batting, Pakistan chased down the target in the penultimate over for the loss of four wickets. Babar Azam remained not out till the end, scoring 37 runs off 34 balls. His classy batting helped Pakistan to ace the chase comfortably without facing any hiccups in the death overs.

As a result, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in a one-sided contest. By doing so, they won the T20I Tri-Series 2025 in a commanding fashion, sending a strong message that they are ready for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026.

Pakistan crushed Sri Lanka to win the T20I Tri-Series final in Rawalpindi. The home side comfortably chased down 114 runs, thanks to some brilliant batting by Babar Azam.

Pakistan Thrash Sri Lanka to Lift T20I Tri-Series Trophy in Rawalpindi

Sri Lanka has managed to score just 114 runs against Pakistan in the final of the T20I Tri-Series at Rawalpindi. They displayed pathetic batting performance during the middle overs that allowed Pakistan to comeback into the game. The green shirts seized the opportunity and bowled superbly to bowl out Sri Lanka on a very low total in the first innings of the match.

Mohammad Nawaz and <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/shaheen-afridi-breaks-silence-on-odi-captaincy-change/2202-5-0">Shaheen Shah Afridi</a> remained the star bowlers for Pakistan, as they picked 3 wickets each to dismantle the batting lineup of Sri Lanka. Shaheen was especially good in today&rsquo;s match, as his spells in the Powerplay and death overs gave Pakistan an advantage over Sri Lanka.

Coming out to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a strong start in the Powerplay. Their top-order batters attacked the Pakistan bowling unit by playing positive cricket in the first six overs of the match. Though Pathum Nissanka lost his wicket early, the in-form Kamil Mishara kept on playing aggressively to challenge the Pakistan bowling plans.

Due to his aggressive batting, Sri Lanka managed to score 56 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the Powerplay. This was a seriously good start that made Sri Lanka believe that they could score big in the first innings. The Pakistan bowling attack was under pressure, but then they found the breakthrough with the dismissal of Kusal Mendis in the 11th over. It was Mohammad Nawaz who picked the wicket, sending Mendis back for just 14 runs.

Once he got out, Sri Lanka became unsettled in batting. The in-form Kamil Mishara also began to struggle to rotate the strike, which added more pressure on the visitors. He eventually fell in the 14th over after scoring 59 runs. This proved to be the only positive knock for Sri Lanka, as the rest of the batters struggled to middle the ball throughout the first innings.

<h2>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Middle Order Collapsed Quickly</h2>

The batting lineup of Sri Lanka collapsed quickly after the dismissal of Mishara. It was a disappointing performance from the middle-order batters, who looked completely clueless against Pakistan&rsquo;s spin attack. They continued to lose wickets one after another without making any meaningful contributions to the scoreboard. This stalled Sri Lanka&rsquo;s momentum and allowed Pakistan to take full control of the game.

The spin duo of Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed dismantled the Sri Lankan middle order with smart bowling. They extracted plenty of spin from the surface to make batting difficult for the visitors. With smart field settings and proactive bowling, Mohammad Nawaz claimed 3 wickets, whereas Abrar Ahmed made the impact with 2 wickets.

In the death overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi made the difference by taking quick wickets. Due to his rapid strikes, Sri Lanka were bowled out cheaply for just 114 runs. Pakistan are now feeling confident to chase down this target with positive batting. It is indeed a low score, but will require careful batting to successfully complete the chase in the second innings.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka managed to score just 114 runs against Pakistan in the Tri-Series final. Kamil Mishara remained their only star batter who scored 59 runs for the visitors in the first innings.

Sri Lanka Stutters to 114 Against Pakistan in Tri-Series Final

Pakistan has won the toss and decided to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the T20I Tri Series final at Rawalpindi. The home side bolstered its attack by adding Shaheen Shah Afridi in the squad. He has returned to the Playing XI after recovering from a minor foot injury.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka has made no changes to its Playing XI. They have entered the field with the same squad that defeated Pakistan in the previous encounter here in Rawalpindi. The visitors are therefore confident of repeating a similar performance in the final to lift the T20I Tri-Series trophy.

This is a high-pressure match for both teams, so fans can expect plenty of action right from the start. Sri Lanka will rely heavily on its batting to gain an edge, just as they did in their previous contest against Pakistan.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, they will look to pick up early wickets in the Powerplay to halt the charge of the Sri Lankan batters. All eyes will be on Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is returning from injury after spending most of the tournament in the dugout. His performance in the final could give Pakistan a significant advantage over Sri Lanka, which is currently looking determined to post a big total on the board.

Pakistan has decided to field first against Sri Lanka in the T20I Tri-Series final at Rawalpindi. They are determined to win the match by restricting the visitors to a low total.

Pakistan Opts to Field First in the T20I Tri-Series Final at Rawalpindi

Bangladesh and Ireland will come head to head against each other in the 2nd T20I at Chattogram. This is a crucial match for the home team, because they <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/ireland-beats-bangladesh-by-39-runs-in-1st-t20i-at-chattogram/2465-5-0">lost</a> the last game quite badly to the visitors. They need to win this match at all cost, otherwise, Ireland will seal the series with a lead of 2-0.

By winning the first game, Ireland has put Bangladesh under a lot of pressure. The visitors are therefore confident to make the young Bangladesh team more nervous in the upcoming game. They know that Litton&rsquo;s team is going through some off-field tensions, so putting extra pressure on them can give Ireland a series victory.

As far as Bangladesh is concerned, they face a big task ahead of the second game in Chattogram. Their batting has struggled in the last few matches, and the captain himself is searching for answers. They need to find quick fixes in their batting to challenge a confident Ireland team. The performance of Litton Das will be closely monitored, as he is the leader of a team that has been inconsistent in T20I cricket lately.

In this blog, we will take a quick overview of the upcoming Bangladesh vs Ireland T20I match at Chattogram. Before analyzing the squads of both teams, let&rsquo;s first take a quick recap of the series opener below.

<h2>A Quick Recap of the Bangladesh vs Ireland 1st T20I Match</h2>

Ireland started the T20I series with a stellar performance against the home side. They stunned everyone with a strong batting display at Chattogram, scoring 181 runs in the first innings. The brutal hitting of Harry Tector took the game away from Bangladesh, as he struck 69 runs off 45 balls by smashing 1 four and 5 sixes.

Due to his batting effort, Ireland managed to post a big total on the board, which proved too much for the Bangladesh team. The batting innings of the home side was completely disappointing. Ireland took them under pressure from the start of the innings, as they removed the Bangladesh top order cheaply.

The middle order batter, Towhid Hridoy, tried his best to steady the innings from one end. He remained unsuccessful in that attempt, as the wickets kept on falling regularly. A lot of credit here should be given to the Ireland bowlers who kept the control of the game in their hands. Due to their strikes, Bangladesh failed to build any momentum in the chase.

The lone fight of Towhid Hridoy with unbeaten 83 runs proved futile in the end, as Bangladesh only managed to score 142 runs in the second innings. This gave Ireland a perfect start to the T20I series, which was earlier expected to be dominated by Bangladesh.

<h2>Bangladesh Squad Analysis for 2nd T20I at Chattogram</h2>

Bangladesh is currently under pressure after losing the series opener at Chattogram. They displayed poor batting in the second innings, which led to their downfall. The upcoming contest will give them a perfect opportunity to showcase a better performance with the bat, as players like Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan need to come forward with big knocks.

In the bowling department, the strike bowlers of Bangladesh need to pick quick wickets. Both Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam will need to remove the Ireland openers cheaply. By doing that, they can put an early pressure on the visitors which will push them on the back foot.

<h2>Ireland Squad Analysis for 2nd T20I at Chattogram</h2>

Ireland need to repeat their heroics from the first game to defeat Bangladesh again in the 2nd T20I. This is a doable task, as the Irish players have shown that they can put the inconsistent Bangladesh team under pressure. Their openers, Paul Stirling and Tim Tector, will need to strike hard in the Powerplay. This will not only negate the bowling plans of Bangladesh, but will also give confidence to the other batters sitting in the dugout.

The bowlers of Ireland also need to contain the scoring rate of Bangladesh batters. Both Matthew Humphreys and Mark Adair did well in the last game by picking up early wickets. A similar effort in the 2nd T20I will put them in charge, giving Ireland a firm control of the match.

<h2>Bangladesh Probable XI for 2nd T20I at Chattogram</h2>

Litton Das (c &amp; wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.

<h2>Ireland Probable XI for 2nd T20I at Chattogram</h2>

Paul Stirling (c), Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little.

<h2>Final Words</h2>

The 2nd T20I between Bangladesh vs Ireland is expected to be a thrilling contest. The home side will try to make a comeback into the series, as winning this match is important for them. On the other hand, Ireland will try to get another win under their belt to secure a series victory over Bangladesh. So, both teams will come into the field with precise objectives, giving fans a stunning experience of high-quality T20I cricket.&nbsp;

Bangladesh will take on Ireland in the 2nd T20I at Chattogram on November 29. It is a must win game for them in which they need to come up with a better batting performance.

Bangladesh vs Ireland 2nd T20I 2025: Full Squad Analysis

Maaz Sadaqat played a key role in Pakistan&rsquo;s success in both the Hong Kong Sixes and the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament. His brilliance with the bat helped Pakistan post big scores, while his handy bowling skills allowed the green shirts to keep the scoring rate under control.

The young batter looked in stellar form during the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament. His hammering of the overconfident Indian team made headlines everywhere, boosting Sadaqat&rsquo;s confidence for the rest of the tournament.

Speaking about his experience in the Hong Kong Sixes, Maaz Sadaqat said it taught him to handle pressure, even when batters kept hitting sixes. This learning proved instrumental in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, where he bowled in the middle overs with greater confidence.

&quot;In the Hong Kong Sixes, even if you went for three sixes, it was considered a good over and the boundaries were short. But just a few days later when I bowled in Doha, I felt near to no pressure because the moments felt less intense and I eased into my bowling role well, which helped our team,&quot; said Maaz Sadaqat.

He also said that before going to the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, he promised himself to win games for the Pakistan Shaheens. The young star had plenty of belief in his all-round abilities, as he did a lot of hard work before to prepare for the tournament.

&quot;Going into the Rising Stars tournament, I had plenty of belief in me and pledged to myself that I will win it for my team. All the hard work I have done prior to this season has paid off,&quot; said Maaz Sadaqat.

The young rising star further revealed how the busy cricket schedule has left him with less time to spend with his family. Maaz said the ongoing season has not allowed him to visit his home in Peshawar frequently, however, he is happy to be with the team during all the recently concluded tours.

&quot;I have been making short stops at home in Peshawar between all these engagements and the last time I left home after coming from Doha, my mother welled up seeing me for such a short time but she is also so proud of seeing me do well after all we have gone through as a family.&quot; concluded Maaz Sadaqat.

Maaz Sadaqat admitted that Hong Kong Sixes experience gave him a boost to perform more in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.

Hong Kong Sixes Victory Key to Maaz Sadaqat’s Rising Stars Performance

England is currently reeling from the Perth defeat that was inflicted single-handedly by <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/travis-head-calls-perth-innings-his-biggest-performance/2392-5-0">Travis Head</a>. Their hopes to make a comeback in the Ashes depends on the next game at Brisbane. It will be a day-night contest, so any team can win it by planning the sessions smartly.

The legendary test bowler of England, Stuart Broad, has said that the pink-ball test is a &ldquo;lottery&rdquo; for England. He believes that the visitors need to plan their bowling in the night sessions creatively, as it could give them an edge over the Australian team.

&quot;We know the pink-ball Test, having played a few ourselves, is a bit of a lottery. Ultimately the best team generally wins Test matches but this one, it&#39;s on a bit more of a knife edge of conditions.&quot; said Stuart Broad.

Analyzing the last three pink-ball matches of England in Australia, the visitors have lost all three by a big margin. They will be thinking of this certainly, however, this time they have a different leadership and playing strategies.

Stuart Broad believes that England can do a lot of damage to Australia with a brand-new pink ball in the night sessions. He further said that the pink ball doesn&rsquo;t do much during daylight, so bowling with it at night seems to be a much better option.

&quot;If you can get a brand new ball under the floodlights at the Gabba, you should be taking wickets and you can break the game open. It is all about timing a little bit of when you bowl with the brand new ball. That is why I don&#39;t like bowling first in pink-ball cricket because you bowl with a brand new ball in daylight and it doesn&#39;t do a lot.&rdquo; said Stuart Broad.

It is certainly a fact that an old ball doesn&rsquo;t seam or swing much during the night sessions. That is why teams usually prefer to bat first, so that they can negate this challenge before the arrival of twilight period.

&quot;By the time you get to the twilight period the ball is 60 overs old and doesn&#39;t do anything - and the new ball comes too late in the day. Winning the toss and batting is pretty crucial in the pink-ball Test in my opinion. That is my feeling in pink-ball cricket. It is going to be one hell of a challenge.&quot; said Stuart Broad.

He then said that winning the pink-ball test matches are situational dependent. Teams that win the toss and start bowling with the new ball during the twilight period always gain an advantage over the other team.

&quot;I&#39;m not the biggest fan [of pink-ball Tests] to be honest. It&#39;s quite situational dependent, so if you can manipulate the game to get a brand new ball in the twilight, you&#39;ve got a great chance of doing really well because the ball just seems to zip around a little bit more.&rdquo; said Stuart Broad.

&nbsp;

<h2>Mastering the Pink Ball Remains Elusive for Teams</h2>

Playing with the pink ball has remained difficult for teams over the past few years. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/stuart-broad-england-plan-to-stop-travis-head-ashes-analysis/2418-5-0">Stuart Broad</a> also acknowledged this fact, saying that many teams have yet to figure out how to play with the pink ball effectively.

&quot;There&#39;s something about the pink ball, you just can&#39;t pick it up quite as well. You get no clues as well, so the seam is black against the pink background, whereas with a red ball and white seam you might see Mitchell Starc&#39;s in-swinger coming back into the stumps or scrambling around.&rdquo; said Stuart Broad.

&quot;It&#39;s just the lights are reflecting off the pink ball so it&#39;s almost like a big planet coming flying towards you.&rdquo; added Stuart Broad.

The veteran bowler once again emphasized the importance of batting first. He said that even if teams get bowled out early, they still have a chance at night to put pressure back on the opposition by taking quick wickets with the new pink ball.

&quot;That&#39;s why I think it is quite important to bat first because even if you are bowled out by tea when it&#39;s starting to go dark, you have a brand new ball under lights. And if you bat well you can control when you bowl in the game and in the day.&quot; concluded Stuart Broad.

Stuart Broad has said that England’s best chance to make a comeback in the Ashes series is by winning the pink-ball test at the iconic Gabba Stadium.

England’s Ashes Hopes Rest on Brisbane Pink-Ball Match

The Indian bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has given a positive update on the recovery of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. He said the Indian captain is recovering well, while Iyer has recently begun his rehabilitation. This is an encouraging sign for the Indian team, which is currently facing a lot of criticism after losing the test series against South Africa.

After getting hit on the neck in the first test at Kolkata, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/shubman-gill-ruled-out-of-guwahati-test-vs-south-africa/2354-5-0">Shubman Gill</a> was immediately taken for the scans, which revealed the severity of the hit. Based on that, he was ruled out of the match and Pant was given the leadership charge for the rest of the series.

Morne Morkel spoke to Shubman Gill two days ago to get an update on his neck. The young batter gave positive responses, which made Morkel optimistic about his return to international cricket soon.

&quot;I think the best is for the medical [team] to give that [update]. I spoke to Shubman two days ago just to check in with him and he is recovering well. So, that is pleasing to hear.&rdquo; said Morne Morkel while talking to the reporters.

Talking about Shreyas Iyer, Morkel said that he has started the rehab process, which will speed up his recovery. The bowling coach is optimistic that both Gill and Iyer will return to the team soon, as their reports are giving plenty of positive signals.

&quot;Shreyas has also started his rehab, which is great. So, we are looking forward to welcoming them back into the squad. The good thing is that they are healthy and they are starting their preparation on their way back into the team.&quot; said Morne Morkel.

With the ODIs against South Africa starting soon, India is yet to decide who will take the no.4 batting position in place of injured Shreyas Iyer. The names of Rishabh Pant and Tilak Verma are under consideration, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Shubman Gill&rsquo;s absence is not a major setback for India, as Yashasvi Jaiswal will replace him as an opener. He is also a young rising star who has impressed everyone in Indian cricket circles with his notable performances.

<h2>Opportunity for India to Bounce Back After Test Defeat</h2>

After losing the test series badly against South Africa, India now has the chance to turn the tide in the three-match ODI series. The return of top stars, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, can help India in this regard, although South Africa will also come hard by having the services of Quinton de Kock.

Morne Morkel also echoed the same sentiment in the press conference, which gave a sigh of relief to Indian cricket fans. However, he also cautioned that the spirit of the South African team is very high after winning the test series, so they can&rsquo;t be taken lightly in the ODI matches.

&quot;Look, it&#39;s a change of colour by clothing and it&#39;s a change of ball which always brings a different energy. But I feel you know the South African team, they have that momentum with them and a confident Protea team is a dangerous team. It will be important to start well, for us to play good cricket over the next week or two, because they&#39;re here to win.&rdquo; said Morne Morkel.

He added that the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will help the Indian team in the upcoming matches. He also urged all the players to forget about the losses of the last few weeks, as the days coming ahead are equally important for them.

&quot;Luckily, we have got some good experience ahead now in the team. For us, it is now focus for the next two days. Give ourselves the best opportunity to prepare well and go out there and put the last couple of weeks behind us and really focus on playing solid cricket.&quot; said Morne Morkel.

The upcoming game in Ranchi is expected to produce big scores, as the pitches there are conducive to batting. Keeping that in mind, India has not yet finalized whether they will pick a fast-bowling all-rounder or a spinner for the first ODI. The decision will be made after the training session, which will provide a better idea of the ground conditions.

&quot;I think we will have to look at the wicket. Honestly, I just walked past it now and it looked like a very good surface. Almost South African-like. So, I think the discussions will happen tonight in terms of what combination they look to start off with. So, we will have to wait and see after training.&quot; concluded Morne Morkel.

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are recovering fast from their respective injuries. Morne Morkel gave this update while talking to the reporters in a press conference.

Morne Morkel Updates on Gill and Iyer’s Recovery Progress

Usman Khawaja couldn&rsquo;t play a big role in the first Ashes test, as he got out cheaply in both innings. The opening batter also felt plenty of discomfort in his back, which is why he didn&rsquo;t open the batting in the second innings. Travis Head was asked to bat in place of Khawaja, and he churned out plenty of runs to give Australia a stunning <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/australia-crush-england-in-two-days-after-stunning-perth-collapse/2386-5-0">victory</a> over England.

Besides experiencing discomfort, Khawaja also made some strong comments about the Perth Test. He described the surface in the Ashes opener as unplayable, saying it was far from ideal for batting.

&quot;Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that&#39;s a great wicket - that seems real fair,&quot; said Usman Khawaja sarcastically.

He then mentioned that the Perth pitch behaved similarly last year during the test against India. Batters struggled to middle the ball, and even Steve Smith experienced plenty of difficulties while trying to play his shots. Because of the unpredictable bounce, several batters were also struck on the elbow.

&quot;The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test, it&#39;s just that day one wicket, the ball just does not react. Steve Smith&#39;s by far the best cricketer I&#39;ve ever played with and he&#39;s missing the middle of his bat by a long way - he does not miss the middle of his bat. He&#39;s getting hit in the elbow, he&#39;s getting hit.&quot; said Usman Khawaja.

&quot;You can&#39;t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest - sideways is a little bit easier but up and down your hands can&#39;t catch up. So day one wicket at [Perth] is a piece of s***, I&#39;m happy to say that. It has been last year, it was this year.&rdquo; added Usman Khawaja.

He added that the pitch tends to improve as the game progresses, making batting slightly easier. However, when the match reaches Day 4, cracks begin to appear on the surface, just as they normally do on other wickets.

&quot;They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up.&quot; said Usman Khawaja.

<h2>Getting Ready for the Gabba Test</h2>

The Australian batting prodigy then explained his recovery after experiencing back spasms in the first test. He said the discomfort was quite new to him, as he had never experienced it before. However, it is now healing quickly, and he is feeling better to feature in the next test at the Gabba.

&quot;I feel good. I&#39;d never experienced it before, but the last few days have been good. I&#39;ve never had back spasms before, so it&#39;s been quite new for me. I&#39;ve been quite lucky. I&#39;m 39 years old [on December 18] and have always had a pretty solid back. Rachel, my wife, has been taking care of me - she&#39;s been letting me sleep in a fair bit actually, I&#39;ve really been taking advantage of it. I should be right.&quot; said Usman Khawaja.

During the first day of the Perth Test, Khawaja returned to the dugout after experiencing discomfort in his back. He knew that the opportunity to open the innings would come soon, as England&rsquo;s batters were getting out quickly.

&quot;I went off knowing I still wanted to open; I don&#39;t want to bat anywhere else. I went off, and I think they [England] were six down, and we just went bang, bang, wicket.&rdquo; said Usman Khawaja.

As soon as he returned, Australia picked up two more wickets in quick succession. This made Khawaja slightly nervous, as he still wasn&rsquo;t feeling comfortable enough to open the innings. The painkillers he took needed some time to take effect, so he had to remain patient to fully recover.

&quot;I rushed back on, and then we take the next two wickets. That was the frustrating part for me, but I had no other option. I had anti-inflammatories, really strong ones. I had real strong painkillers all through that time - even in the morning - and got myself to a place where I could actually field again.&quot; said Usman Khawaja.

It was fortunate for Khawaja that Australia won the match within two days. He had already planned to get a medical checkup the next day, so finishing early allowed his body to get the much-needed rest.

&quot;I&#39;m really glad that we got [the match] done that night, because the next day, I already had the radiology booked. I was going to get an epidural in my back, so I can actually move somewhat. I had it booked in, ready to go, so if the team needed me, I was there again.&quot; concluded Usman Khawaja.

Usman Khawaja is confident that he will feature in the Gabba test with full fitness. He also criticized the Perth surface by saying that it was not an ideal pitch for batting.

Khawaja Targets Gabba Comeback While Taking Aim at Perth Pitch

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka showed up for the official trophy photo session. This happened right before the T20I Tri-Series final.

The pictures turned up on the Pakistan Cricket Board&#39;s social media pages. They captured the two captains in some relaxed moments. The pair exchanged thoughts ahead of that crucial match.

The caption on the post read, &ldquo;Pre-final trophy shoot with the captains, featuring a musical twist.&rdquo;

Pakistan and Sri Lanka made it to the final in pretty different ways. Pakistan only lost one out of their three matches. Sri Lanka earned their spot with a thrilling victory over the home team in a game it really had to win.

In that match, Pakistan chased a tough target of 185 runs. They stumbled early on after Dushmantha Chameera&#39;s fiery opening spell. Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan steadied things with a 56-run partnership. Usman&#39;s lively knock of 33 off 23 balls pushed the score to 99 in 12.2 overs. Right after that, a key 70-run stand between Agha and Mohammad Nawaz kept Pakistan in the fight.

But the chase still boiled down to the final over, with Pakistan needing 10 and Chameera taking the ball again. The pacer held his nerve and delivered a brilliant over under pressure, giving away just three runs, including the wicket of Faheem Ashraf, while Salman, who took a single earlier in the over, watched from the non-striker&rsquo;s end.

The grand finale is scheduled for tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

<h2>Squads</h2>

Pakistan:

Salman Ali Agha (c), Hassan Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.

Sri Lanka:

Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Pavan Rathnayake, Eshan Malinga.

Salman Ali Agha and Dasun Shanaka pose with the trophy ahead of the T20I Tri-Series final in Rawalpindi.

Agha & Shanaka Pose With Trophy Before Tri-Series Final

Babar Azam has his eyes firmly set on lifting a World Cup trophy for Pakistan, saying he is training hard, both in fitness and in skill, to achieve that long-awaited milestone finally.

Over the past decade, Babar has turned into one of Pakistan&rsquo;s most reliable performers, building a remarkable record that includes 32 international centuries, the fourth-highest tally for any Pakistani batter.

Even with all his skill on the field and the way he leads the team, that trophy case for Pakistan still sits with one big gap. He took them all the way to the final in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup. England pulled off a five-wicket victory to beat them, though. Their last real World Cup win happened way back in 2009. Younis Khan was the captain then, and he led them to that success.

Babar opened up a lot during his chat with Kevin Pietersen on &lsquo;The Switch&rsquo;. He covered the good moments, the tough pressures, and what drives him to keep going. Pietersen asked straight up about his plans for the coming years. Babar did not hold back. His main goal right now is to grab an ICC title for the team.

&ldquo;We want to win an ICC trophy. We reached the finals of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup, but we lost,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m working hard on my fitness and everything,&rdquo; he added, making it clear how much the goal means to him.

<h2>Pressure, Focus, and the Influence of AB de Villiers</h2>

Babar also spoke about the pressure that comes with being Pakistan&rsquo;s leading batter, and how he deals with the noise and expectations.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m [also] a human being. Sometimes you make mistakes. The main thing is the focus. I stop listening to anyone. I talk to myself, to my coaches,&rdquo; he shared, explaining his mental approach at the crease.

Things got a bit more relaxed in the talk when Pietersen brought up Babar&#39;s all-time favorite batter. That part really highlighted his respect for the game, along with a touch of fun.

Babar mentioned how AB de Villiers caught his eye from the time he was just a kid. He admired the guy long before he even turned pro himself.

When KP jokingly asked, &ldquo;AB is your all-time? Am I second or third?&rdquo; Babar playfully replied, &ldquo;No, sixth,&rdquo; drawing laughter from the conversation.

He then spoke warmly about seeing AB for the first time during Pakistan&rsquo;s 2007 home series against South Africa, at a time when he was just a ball picker at the stadium.

&ldquo;He inspired me. When I was younger, I tried to copy him. Like his stance, he&rsquo;s sideways,&rdquo; Babar said, even imitating AB&rsquo;s signature setup.

He described the moment he first saw his idol:

&ldquo;In 2007 or maybe 2006, I was a ball picker... I saw AB for the first time. I just&hellip; You stopped and stared. Oh, my idol is here.&rdquo;

For Babar, that memory remains one of the strongest reminders of why he plays and what he continues to chase.

Babar Azam expresses his dream of winning a World Cup for Pakistan as he works on fitness and focus.

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