Pakistan Cricket is slowly and rightly ticking the required boxes for improvement of Cricket, but there is still a great deal to be done.

Obviously, Victory brings confidence and sense of grandeur. Many congratulations to Pakistan team for Winning Tri-Nation T20 Series 2025, but the hard work and process must continue. After a long time, Pakistan’s bench strength in spin bowling department looks promising. Shaheen needs to instill more venom in his bowling pace and swing.

Fast bowling department requires further work because tough teams like Australia & England are going to come hard at weak pace bowling, that will be the real test of Pakistan Cricket team’s progress. Similarly, Pakistan’s batting ought to be better, Saim should quickly start converting good starts into big scores, Babar has to fix his spin conundrum and all other batters must bat with controlled aggression & responsibility. Youngsters like Faisal Akram, Maaz Sadaqat, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood and Sufyan Muqeem exhibit talent & great potential.

Freshly hosted Tri-Nation T20 Cricket Series 2025 by Pakistan, played between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe held in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was a massive success for Pakistan Cricket, Government, security forces and for the nation. Considering the circumstances, under which the series took place after the heineous November terror attack in Islamabad. It was reported that, these attacks were funded by India and executed by India’s terrorist proxies. As a result of these attacks, 12 innocent un-armed Pakistani civilians were killed and 27 got injured. Another such example was 3rd March 2009, when visiting Sri Lankan team bus was targeted by India-backed terrorists from Eastern Afghanistan to sabotage cricket in Pakistan. The purpose of such terrorist attacks on Pakistan is to isolate Pakistan from World Cricket and to declare Pakistan as an unsafe Country for Cricket and tarnish the image of Pakistan.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the finalists of the Tri-Nation T20 Series 2025 played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Srilankan cricket team had a sloppy start in the beginning of the tournament and faced demoralising defeats from the hands of Zimbabwe and later from Pakistan, but It was in the second half of the tournament where Sri Lankans turned the tables around by beating Zimbabwe and then overcoming Pakistan by breaking their unbeaten winning streak.

In the final, Salman Ali Agha won the toss and shown no hesitation in bowling first. Srilankan team was unchanged. In contrast Pakistan team made one important change by brining in the premier fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi. Nissanka started well and deposited Afridi for a commanding six sailed away between midwicket and long-on boundary. Nissanka is a type of player who can take the game away from opposition single handedly. But Shaheen’s talent, skill ,ability, and staying focused to the plan overpowered Srilankan top-batter Pathum Nissanka with a perfect slower one, Nissanka went early for the shot and the ball arriving late crashed into the stumps. Shaheen had the last laugh and first blood was drawn by Pakistan. Later Kamil Mishara & Kushal Mendis played with a mix of caution & intent and steadied Lankan innings until 10.2 when they were 84/1, a loopy delivery from Mohammad Nawaz enticed Mendis to go over the top, but resulted in an unwanted outcome, caught at long-off by Babar Azam, a brilliant catch.

Pavan Rathnayake promoted to number 3, but could not utilize the opportunity and was caught by Babar Azam on the bowling of Saim Ayub. On Abrar Ahmed’s delivery Kusal Perera targeted stands, but lobbed the ball straight up in the air ending up caught by keeper Usman Khan. Abrar Ahmed started reaping the rewards from the earlier tight and precise bowling spells of Nawaz and Saim. Dasun Shanaka, Abrar’s second scalp pouched by Babar Azam again. Srilanka were 5 down for 104, Salman Ali Agha dropped a sitter in the slips on the bowling of Muhammad Nawaz, Agha normally a very safe & one of the best fielder in slips. Muhammad Nawaz soon bowled Liyanage to make amends for missed slip chance, the ball went a bit low & Srilanka were stumbling. Nawaz then uprooted the off-stump of Hasaranga. Shaheen also joined the party and dismissed Shanaka with a slower one & Fakhar Zaman took a blinder, but it was given not out by third umpire for inconclusive evidence of clean catch, soon Shaheen bowled Shanaka with an effective slower one. Afridi’s third wicket followed soon, when Theekshana tried to scoop him towards fine leg, but ended up giving an easy catch behind the stumps. Salman Mirza rattled the stumps of chameera and drew curtains on Sri Lankan Innings 114 all out. Srilanka’s nine wickets were fallen for 30 runs only.

Pakistan started their chase confidently on a turning & gripping Rawalpindi track. Saim Ayub & Sahibzada Farhan started well. Farhan smacked the first ball of Hasaranga out of the park with disdain, showing clear intentions to attack. However, Eshan Malinga knocked down Farhan’s stumps with a peach of a delivery, a bullet in-swinger, clocking 142.3 Kph.

Next batter in was Babar Azam at number 3. Saim played well for his 36 on (32) but was a bit unlucky & got trapped LBW in front on a delivery that stayed low on the bowling of mystery spinner Hasaranga. Salman Ali Agha was middling the ball well but could only manage 14 & got out on a half tracker rather hit-me ball, the fielder Shanaka took a sharp catch at short extra cover. Fakhar Zaman also could not contribute much and rushed into playing a lofted shot rather than taking singles and rotate the strike, Shanaka was the catcher again, Pavan Rathnayake scalped second wicket. Usman Khan was next batter. Although, Fakhar Zaman is proving to be a vital cog in the wheel of Pakistan’s batting line up being a floater. Babar Azam aced the chase played a very crucial knock of 37* on (34) on a very tricky surface. Final score reads 118/4 in 18.4 overs.

Deepest gratitude to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for standing together with Pakistan Cricket and winning the hearts of all Pakistanis.

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