Sports - NEWS Of KASHMIR

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Announces Plans to Make Gulmarg a Winter Sports Hub

March 12, 2025 by NOK Desk

To provide fillip to winter sports in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya announced the government’s plans to convert Gulmarg into a sporting hub here on Wednesday.

The Union Sports Minister said this while attending the closing ceremony of the fifth Khelo India Winter Games at the Gulmarg Golf Club. The closing ceremony was also attended by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, and J-K Minister of Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, among others.

“India has got immense talent, and we have to find and nurture it from 9 years to 24 years. To be able to do this, we have to create a sports school at each district across the sub-continent, where raw talent will be scouted and then trained at National Centres of Excellence across the country. We will ensure that they are able to compete at national and international level with all support these youngsters require. Jammu and Kashmir is already organising one of the best upskilling of coaches’ programme among all Indian States. I have conveyed to all States to follow the coaching model created by J-K,” Mandaviya said during his closing ceremony address as per a press release from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

“The Indian government has a responsibility of developing sports across the country, and Narendra Modi’s government will put in all efforts to help elevate the level of sports in Jammu and Kashmir. We plan to create a sporting hub for winter sports here in Gulmarg to give the youth of Jammu and Kashmir the best opportunity and infrastructure to excel in sports,” he added.

Mandaviya said that he met sports ministers of 28 States and 8 Union Territories and senior members of National Sports Federations to create a proper roadmap in the build-up to hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics.

“Keeping in mind that we want to host the 2036 Olympic Games, we have to develop a robust sports infrastructure and a quality sports ecosystem. For this, we will have to create a proper roadmap. Many times, we set a goal, but the pathway required to reach it is missing. For this, we had a three-day brainstorming session with the sports ministers, senior representatives of National Sports Federations, renowned athletes and sports experts in Hyderabad last week. We created a roadmap for the next 10 years with the inputs we received from all stakeholders,” he added.

The Union Sports Minister said that Gulmarg was known not just as a meadow of flowers but had now also come to be known as India’s Winter Games city.

“I have visited many foreign countries and skiing destinations, but I can tell you that Gulmarg is way better, way beautiful and one of the best tourist and skiing destinations in the world. We just have to use opportunities to make the destination even better,” he said.

Mandaviya handed the champions trophy to the Indian Army, who clinched 18 medals, including 7 gold 5 silver and 6 bronze, to defend their title. A spirited Himachal Pradesh had to settle for the runner-up title with 6 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze medals. Union Territory of Ladakh came third with 7 medals, comprising 4 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.

Himachal Pradesh gave their all on the final day by winning the women’s relay gold medal in ski mountaineering but had to settle for second position behind the Indian Army, who retained their Winter Games title by virtue of winning one more gold medal than their rivals on Wednesday. It was a small heartbreak for Himachal Pradesh as they had clinched 7 medals the previous day including a clean sweep in Alpine skiing women’s slalom event.

Army defended their Winter Games title thanks to an exposure trip to Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, which gave their confidence of a big boost. The jawans, majorly stationed at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, took advantage of local knowledge and acclimatisation to extreme weather conditions including continuous snowfall, strong chilly winds, threat of avalanches and poor visibility.

The Winter Games saw the Indian Army reign supreme in the Nordic skiing events, while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police ruled the same discipline in the women’s category.

KIWG witnessed a plethora of multiple medallists including Rajeshwar Singh (2 gold 1 silver in ski mountaineering), Kusum Rana (2 gold 1 bronze in women’s Nordic skiing), Sunny Singh (1 gold 1 silver 1 bronze in men’s Nordic skiing) and Siddharth Gadekar (1 gold 1 silver in ski mountaineering), among others.

Also evident from the medal tally is that the States with no natural topography for winter sports have fared well in this edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, only proving that the relentless efforts of the Government of India to popularise this niche game is bearing fruit. States like Maharashtra, with 13 medals, and Tamil Nadu, with 5 medals, are enough proof of this.

In the last edition, the Army finished on top of the medal tally with 10 gold, just one more than Karnataka and three more than No. 3 Maharashtra. (ANI)

India Clinches ICC Champions Trophy 2025 With Team Effort, Says Virat Kohli

March 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

After winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand on Sunday, India’s stalwart batter Virat Kohli shared his thoughts on the title win and said that he is happy as the team was able to play as a unit.

In the final, it was Rohit Sharma who led the way. In the semi-final, it was Virat Kohli with the bat and Mohammed Shami with the ball, among others.

India won five straight games to claim the Champions Trophy 2025, and in each of those contests, a handful of their star players shone brightly. Those contributions led to another title-yielding run in a major ICC event.

Kohli exemplified that in Dubai, scoring an unbeaten ton against Pakistan and a crucial 84 off 98 balls against Australia to help his side qualify for the decider.

“I think to win titles, which has been missing in the past, the whole team must step up in different games. If you look at this tournament, over the course of five matches, everyone has put their hand up somewhere or another,” Kohli said after India’s memorable Final win against New Zealand as quoted by ICC.

These are the things, after playing for so long, you look forward to. Being in situations where you are put under pressure, and you walk in, and you put your hand up.”

After Rohit took full advantage of the new ball, it was Shreyas Iyer that came in and played a commanding helping hand, as India went about surging towards the Black Caps’ total of 251.

Shreyas scored a clutch 48 through the middle overs, where runs had proven hard to come by on the Dubai surface, which was enough to set up KL Rahul for finishing duties, with one over to spare.

“That is why we ended up winning this tournament. People have made such impactful knocks and produced such impactful spells, and it is only a collective effort that can win you a title. I am just so happy we were able to play as a unit and really enjoy ourselves. We have had such an amazing time as a team. It has been an amazing tournament for us,” Kohli continued.

One of the stories of the Champions Trophy has been India’s mid-campaign inclusion of Varun Chakaravarthy, who took 5/42 against the Kiwis in the group stage, in his first tournament appearance. He would go on to become a crucial member of India’s knockout stage run, finishing with nine wickets from his three games.

Chakaravarthy was a key cog in his side’s spin bowling cartel that, game after game, choked the life out of their opponent’s batting innings.

Kuldeep Yadav was the other slow bowler that reaped rewards, picking up two scalps in the Final, while Ravindra Jadeja’s accurate and quality execution was also on full display, finishing with figures of 1/30 off 10 overs.

It’s now back-to-back ICC events for India’s Men’s team, after their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup success last year. It sets them up to be the team to beat at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2028. (ANI)

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Sports

CM Omar Abdullah Launches Khelo India Winter Games 2025 Website, Event Set for March 9-12

March 3, 2025 by NOK Desk

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the official website for Khelo India Winter Games 2025 (kwig2025.com) at the Civil Secretariat.

The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Javed Ahmad Rana and Satish Sharma, and Gulmarg MLA Farooq A. Shah. Also present were Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary GAD & Information M. Raju, Secretary Law, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Secretary J&K Sports Council and other officials, both in person and virtually.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended his best wishes to the organizers and inquired about the arrangements and finalization of dates for the event.

In her presentation, Secretary J&K Sports Council announced that the event will now take place from March 9-12 at Gulmarg. She detailed the schedule, including the arrival of teams on March 7, a night skiing demonstration, fireworks, a laser show, cultural programs, competition events and the award ceremony.

She also highlighted the key features of the newly launched website, which will provide real-time updates and comprehensive event-related information.

With fresh snowfall, Jammu & Kashmir is set to host the second leg of KIWG 2025 in Gulmarg from March 9 to 12, ensuring a world-class winter sports experience in one of India’s premier snow destinations.

The event, initially scheduled for February 22-25, was postponed due to insufficient snowfall. The Khelo India Winter Games 2025 will feature four major events—Alpine Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding, and Nordic Skiing—which will take place at Kongdoori and Gulmarg Club in Gulmarg.

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Sports

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand Wins Toss, Elects to Bowl First Against India

March 2, 2025March 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first in their last group stage match against India at the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

The result of the fixture will also decide the teams that will face off in the semi-finals, with South Africa and Australia having finished as the top-two sides in Group B.

New Zealand kicked off their campaign with a win against hosts Pakistan and then defeated Bangladesh to secure qualification for the next round.

Pipped among the favourites to go all the way, India is also in red-hot form, having emerged victorious against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“We’ll have a bowl first; looks like a good wicket. Want to put some pressure early, and hopefully, it skids on well later. We still want to win; we know we are going to be in Lahore later, but our job here is to do a job here. Daryl Mitchell comes in, and Conway misses this one,” Mitchell Santner said after winning the toss as quoted by Cricbuzz.

At the time of the toss, Men in Blue skipper Rohit Sharma said that the team had made one change for this match as they brought in Varun Chakravarthy in place of Harshit Rana.

“Was anyway looking to bat first, wanted to see what we could do upfront and then challenge our bowlers since we chased on both games. The approach will be very similar to the previous games, just trying to do the same things. One change for us – Harshit has been rested,” Rohit Sharma said.

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rour ke. (ANI)

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Sports

Afghanistan Wins Toss, Elects to Bat First Against Australia in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

February 28, 2025 by NOK Desk

Afghanistan wins toss: Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in their final group stage match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Friday.

After Australia got their tournament off to a flying start by chasing down the highest-ever score at an ICC event against England, rain played spoilsport in their next, forcing them to share points with South Africa, who both are now on three points each and occupying the top two spots in Group B.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, lost their opening game to South Africa by 107 runs but came back stunningly to complete an incredible triumph against England to knock them out of contention for a semi-final spot.

Today’s match is a crucial one, with both teams vying for a spot in the semi-finals in a winner-takes-all contest in Lahore.

“We will bat first because the wicket looks good. It’s a used pitch, England and Australia already played on this pitch, so it will slow down in the second half. We were happy with the performance in our last game, we also have made plans against Australia. We are going with the same team,” Hashmatullah Shahidi said after winning the toss.

Australia captain Steve Smith, on the other hand, stated that had he won the toss, he would have opted to bowl first.

“We would have bowled first, uncertain overhead conditions, and there’s the dew factor as well. All the guys are doing well. It should be a good contest, looking forward to it. Coming here with good intent and aggression and ready to get started. Same team for us,” Steve Smith said.

Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi. (ANI)

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Sports

Pakistan vs Bangladesh ICC Champions Trophy Match Delayed Due to Wet Outfield

February 27, 2025 by NOK Desk

The toss between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday has been delayed due to a wet outfield, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Hosts Pakistan have had a disappointing campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025 at home. They lost the tournament opener in Karachi against New Zealand by 60 runs and then suffered a six-wicket defeat to India in Dubai, which all but ended their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Bangladesh also faced defeats in their first two matches. They lost to India, who chased down the target with six wickets to spare, and then suffered a five-wicket loss against New Zealand. With these results, India and New Zealand have already secured their spots in the semi-finals.

With both teams out of the race for the knockout stage, today’s match in Rawalpindi is only a formality and will serve as a consolation for the winner.

Squads:

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shaheen Afridi.

Bangladesh: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana. (ANI)

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Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran Smashes Record 177 in ICC Champions Trophy Against England

February 26, 2025 by NOK Desk

Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran scripted history with a sensational knock of 177 off 146 deliveries, the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history, surpassing England’s Ben Duckett’s 165. His record-breaking innings helped Afghanistan post a formidable 325/7 in 50 overs against England in their Group B clash in Lahore on Wednesday.

Zadran not only became the first Afghan player to score a century in the ICC Champions Trophy, but also the first Afghan batter to score a century in any ICC event, marking a monumental moment for his nation in global cricket.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Afghanistan faced early setbacks, but a resilient middle-order fightback led by Zadran helped them post a commanding total.

England struck early, with Jofra Archer dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6) at 11/1. Things got worse when Sediqullah Atal (4) and Rahmat Shah (4) fell cheaply, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 37/3.

However, Zadran found an able partner in captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who contributed 40 off 67 balls in a crucial 103-run stand. After Shahidi’s dismissal to Adil Rashid, Afghanistan reached the 200-run mark in 37.2 overs.

Zadran continued his dominance, forging a 72-run partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 31, 3 sixes, 1 four) before Jamie Overton broke the stand but the real acceleration came when Mohammad Nabi joined Zadran at the crease.

The experienced all-rounder and the in-form opener stitched together a 111-run partnership, propelling Afghanistan beyond 300. Zadran surpassed his previous best score of 162 against Sri Lanka in 2022, rewriting history with a brilliant 177 (12 fours, 6 sixes). His innings finally ended on the first ball of the last over, falling to Liam Livingstone.

Despite the onslaught, Jofra Archer stood out with figures of 3/64, while Livingstone impressed with 2/28 in 5 overs. Overton and Rashid picked up a wicket each.

With 326 runs needed in 50 overs, England faces a daunting task to keep their Champions Trophy campaign alive.

Brief score: Afghanistan 325/7 (Ibrahim Zadran 177, Mohammad Nabi 40; Jofra Archer 3/63) vs. England (ANI)

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Wasim Akram Praises Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking 135 in T20I Clash

February 25, 2025February 25, 2025 by NOK Desk

Dubai, UAE – Following India’s thrilling encounter with Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23, 2025, legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram met with India’s rising cricket sensation, Abhishek Sharma. The meeting came in the wake of Abhishek’s explosive 135-run innings off just 54 balls in the fifth T20I against England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, a knock that has etched his name into the record books as the highest individual score by an Indian men’s player in T20 Internationals.

Akram, a cricketing icon known for his lethal swing bowling, lauded the 24-year-old left-hander, calling him a “rising star” for India. “What an incredible innings. To score 135 in a T20I is special, but to do it with such flair and composure is remarkable. My advice to him is simple—stay focused and keep working hard,” Akram said during their heartfelt exchange, captured in a video shared by the SunRisers OrangeArmy Official X handle. The interaction underscored a rare moment of cross-border camaraderie amid the intense India-Pakistan rivalry.

Abhishek’s Mumbai masterclass not only clinched him the series’ leading run-scorer title—with 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a blistering strike rate of 219.68—but also shattered the previous Indian T20I record of 126 not out, set by his Punjab teammate and childhood friend Shubman Gill against New Zealand in 2023. His century, reached in a mere 37 balls, ranks as the third-fastest in T20Is among full-member nations, trailing only David Miller and Rohit Sharma, who both scored tons in 35 balls.

The young all-rounder’s journey in T20Is has been a tale of redemption. After debuting with a duck against Zimbabwe in 2024, Abhishek has seized every opportunity under the new coaching regime led by Gautam Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid. His inclusion in the T20I squad reflects India’s push to blood young talent, and Abhishek has repaid that faith with consistent fireworks. In the fifth T20I, he didn’t just dazzle with the bat—scoring 135—but also bowled a match-defining first over, taking two wickets for just three runs, making him only the second player from a Test-playing nation to achieve a century and multiple wickets in a single T20I.

The Dubai meeting with Akram added a personal milestone to Abhishek’s stellar run, blending mentorship with admiration. As India’s T20I setup evolves, Abhishek Sharma stands out as a beacon of its future, armed with records, resilience, and now, the blessings of a cricketing legend.

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Sports

Shikhar Dhawan Presents ‘Fielder of the Match’ Medal to Axar Patel After India’s Dominant Win Over Pakistan!

February 24, 2025 by NOK Desk

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan presented all-rounder Axar Patel with the ‘Fielder of the Match’ medal following India’s thumping win over Pakistan in their ICC Champions Trophy match on Sunday.

Following the win, India fielding coach T Dilip congratulated the team for their fielding performance and introduced three contenders for the medal: Shreyas Iyer, Axar and Ravindra Jadeja.

Shikhar, who is in Dubai in his capacity as the tournament’s ambassador, was then introduced by Dilip. He was welcomed warmly by his ex-teammates, particularly Jadeja and Hardik Pandya, who gave him a hug.

“Congratulations to the whole team, especially the bowling unit. Kuldeep took three wickets. Coming to the batting, Virat, well played. That is what experienced players do. Very well done, Shubman, great consistency. Thank you for inviting me here to present the medal,” Dhawan told the team.

He gave the medal to Axar, who effected an important run-out of Imam Ul Haq with a brilliant direct hit. It was Pakistan’s second wicket and they did not recover from it as their scoring rate fell drastically despite a century stand between Mohammed Rizwan and Saud Shakeel.

Coming to the India-Pakistan Champions Trophy clash, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan was off to a fine start, with Babar Azam (23 in 26 balls, with five fours) unleashing some fine drives in the 41-run opening partnership. After two quick wickets, Pakistan was 47/2.

Skipper Mohammed Rizwan (46 in 77 balls, with three fours) and Saud Shakeel (62 in 76 balls, with five fours) had a 104-run partnership, but they ate up a lot of deliveries. After the end of this partnership, Khushdil Shah (38 in 39 balls, with two sixes) did put up a fight with Salman Agha (19) and Naseem Shah (14), but they were bundled out for 241 runs in 49.4 overs.

Chasing 242 runs, India lost skipper Rohit Sharma (20 in 15 balls, with three fours and a six) early. Then 69-run stand between Shubman Gill (46 in 52 balls, with seven fours) and Virat Kohli (100* in 111 balls, with seven fours) and a 114-run stand between Virat and Iyer (56 in 67 balls, with five fours and a six) helped India secure an easy four-wicket win with six wickets and 45 balls to spare. (ANI)

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Pakistan vs India: High-Stakes ICC Champions Trophy Clash in Dubai

February 23, 2025 by NOK Desk

write title and 18 words meta for this news ”Dubai is buzzing with excitement as cricket’s fiercest rivals, Pakistan and India, prepare for a high-stakes showdown in the ICC Champions Trophy today (Sunday).

With passionate fans from both nations ready to fill the Dubai Cricket Stadium, anticipation is at an all-time high among supporters both at home and abroad for what promises to be a thrilling contest.

Pakistan enters the match in a do-or-die situation after a crushing 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their tournament opener. Their title defense is already in jeopardy, and skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s men will need a dramatic turnaround to keep their campaign alive.

Adding to their woes, opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out due to injury, while batting mainstay Babar Azam has faced criticism for his lack of intent despite scoring a fifty in the last match.

To counter India’s strong batting unit, Pakistan will likely rely on their rich legacy of fast bowling. The pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah will be key in their bid to restrict a formidable Indian lineup featuring Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul.

India, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing government advice, are playing all their matches in Dubai. They kicked off their Group A campaign with a commanding six-wicket victory over Bangladesh. Even without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, the Men in Blue looked dominant, with Mohammed Shami leading the bowling attack by claiming five wickets.

The Indian batting unit, spearheaded by the in-form Shubman Gill, who scored a brilliant 101 against Bangladesh, appears well-equipped to handle the Pakistani challenge. India has also dominated the rivalry in recent years, winning seven of the last eight completed ODIs against Pakistan.

Their dominance is well-documented, but Pakistan’s unpredictability in major tournaments cannot be overlooked.

With emotions running high and a packed stadium expected, the clash promises to be nothing short of electrifying. Despite all the pressure, Pakistan’s nation remains hopeful for a striking performance from their team to turn the tables on India.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while speaking to the media in Dubai, expressed confidence in the team ahead of the high-stakes encounter. He assured fans that the squad was fully prepared and predicted an exciting contest. Acknowledging the ups and downs of the game, Naqvi remained optimistic, stating, “InshaAllah, Pakistan will emerge victorious.”

He further emphasised that a win for the national team would be a significant achievement for the country. Naqvi also sent a strong message of support to the players, assuring them that, win or lose, the entire nation stands behind them.

Squads
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.”

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