38th Pakistan Scrabble Championship, Hasan Hadi wins national title

GALLE: Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to India’s Test side in spectacular fashion, scoring an unbeaten century as India finished the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at 288-2 on Saturday. The left-handed batter, recalled as a late replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan, remained unbeaten on 131 from 178 balls, striking 12 fours and a six. His composed innings put India firmly in control on a rain-affected day at the Galle International Stadium. Padikkal’s century was the first of his Test career and strengthened his case for a permanent place at No. 3. The 26-year-old had last played a Test in November 2024 but entered the match with confidence after scoring a hundred in India’s warm-up game in Colombo. He joined KL Rahul after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32 following a mix-up. The pair then produced a commanding 150-run partnership that shifted the momentum decisively towards India. Padikkal reached his half-century from 81 deliveries, while Rahul took 127 balls to register his 21st Test fifty. Rahul eventually retired hurt on 77 after suffering cramps but is expected to continue his innings on the second day. India captain Shubman Gill also fell for 16, attempting to clear mid-off against spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Rishabh Pant, however, remained unbeaten alongside Padikkal on 27, leaving India with a strong platform for a big first-innings total. Sri Lanka’s fielding coach Jordon Gregory admitted his side had missed opportunities, while praising Padikkal’s discipline and temperament. Rain restricted the day to just 73 overs from the scheduled 90, prompting officials to bring Sunday’s play forward by 15 minutes. The Test is particularly significant as it marks India’s return to Sri Lanka for Test cricket after several years, with valuable World Test Championship points at stake. India have also maintained an unbeaten Test record against Sri Lanka since 2015. With Padikkal settled at the crease and Pant providing support, India will enter the second day with the clear opportunity to build a massive total and put Sri Lanka under early pressure. Still to bat: D. Jurel, R. Jadeja, M. Suthar, K. Yadav, M. Siraj, P. Krishna Fall of wickets: 47 (Jaiswal), 236 (Gill) Sri Lanka Bowling A. Fernando: 10-1-28-0 (1nb) L. Kumara: 10-1-51-0 K. Nuwantha: 21-0-98-0 (2nb) P. Jayasuriya: 24-4-77-1 D. de Silva: 4-0-15-0 S. Dinusha: 4-0-17-0 India lead the opening day at 288-2, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131.

HARARE: India have climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings after taking an unassailable lead in their three-match series against Zimbabwe, quickly reclaiming the position they had lost earlier this month. The reigning T20 world champions moved to No. 1 after defeating Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I at Harare on Saturday. The victory gave India a 2-0 lead in the series and pushed them ahead of England in the rankings. India had slipped to second after a difficult tour of England, where they suffered a heavy series defeat. England had subsequently taken over the top spot after India’s long reign at No. 1 came to an end. The return to the summit has come quickly, with India showing a strong response against Zimbabwe. In the second T20I, India posted 219 for five, powered by Ishan Kishan’s 81 from 44 balls and an unbeaten 60 from Tilak Varma. Zimbabwe were then dismissed for 129 in 17.5 overs as India completed a convincing victory. The first match had also gone India’s way. They chased down Zimbabwe’s 125 for seven in just 13.2 overs, winning by seven wickets, with young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hitting a rapid 50 from only 19 deliveries. India’s return to No. 1 underlines the competitiveness at the top of the T20I rankings. Before the Zimbabwe series, England were ranked first with India second, while Australia, New Zealand and South Africa occupied the next three places. Pakistan remain sixth, followed by West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the top 10. With the series already secured, India entered the third T20I with an opportunity to complete a clean sweep. The result could also prove important in what is currently a closely contested battle for the top ranking. For India, however, the immediate message is clear: “after a brief fall from the summit, the world champions are back at No. 1.”

Pakistan’s spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has been ruled out of the National Champions Cup after suffering a fracture to the middle finger of his right hand. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the injury on Friday, revealing that Nawaz is expected to remain away from competitive cricket for at least three weeks. Nawaz sustained the injury while fielding during the National Champions Cup match between Pakistan Gold and Pakistan Blues at Multan Cricket Stadium on August 12. Despite hurting his finger, the experienced all-rounder remarkably completed his full 10-over spell. His efforts, however, could not prevent Pakistan Gold from suffering a six-wicket defeat against Pakistan Blues. Medical scans conducted on August 13 confirmed the fracture, forcing Nawaz to withdraw from the ongoing domestic competition. The setback comes at an inconvenient time for the left-arm spinner, who has remained an important part of Pakistan’s experienced white-ball setup. According to the PCB, Nawaz will report to the board’s Sports and Exercise Medicine Department after two weeks. He will then undergo rehabilitation under medical supervision, with his recovery closely monitored before a decision is made regarding his return to competitive cricket. The medical team will assess his progress throughout the rehabilitation process, while the priority will be ensuring that the finger has recovered sufficiently before he resumes full cricketing activities. Nawaz’s absence is a blow to his team’s campaign in the Champions Cup, where the tournament provides Pakistan’s established players and emerging talent with valuable competitive exposure. For Nawaz, the immediate focus will now shift from domestic cricket to recovery. The three-week initial timeline could change depending on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation. The PCB is expected to provide further updates on his fitness as he progresses through the recovery programme.

Two more Pakistani cricketers have secured contracts for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), while Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons. Young Pakistani batter Khawaja Nafay has signed with Jaffna Kings ahead of the new LPL season. The promising right-handed batter has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, who is unavailable for the competition. Naafay’s inclusion provides the Jaffna Kings with an exciting batting option as they prepare for the tournament. The youngster has been regarded as one of Pakistan’s emerging talents and will have the opportunity to showcase his skills in one of South Asia’s premier T20 leagues. Playing alongside experienced international cricketers is expected to provide him with valuable exposure and help accelerate his development. Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has also earned an LPL contract after being signed by Dambulla Sixers. He joins the franchise as the replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Iftikhar brings considerable experience to the Dambulla squad with his ability to contribute in multiple departments. Known for his powerful middle-order batting and useful off-spin bowling, he has represented Pakistan in all three international formats and has featured in numerous T20 leagues around the world. His versatility is expected to strengthen the team’s balance as it aims to challenge for the LPL title. The addition of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed further increases Pakistan’s representation in the Lanka Premier League, highlighting the growing demand for Pakistani players in franchise cricket. Their participation also provides another platform for both players to perform against international opposition and gain valuable match experience ahead of future assignments. In a separate development, Kandy Royals have confirmed that Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi will no longer participate in this year’s Lanka Premier League. According to tournament officials, Afridi informed the organizers that he would be unavailable because of personal reasons. As a result, the left-arm fast bowler has withdrawn from the competition before its start. Shaheen’s absence is a significant setback for Kandy Royals, who were expected to rely heavily on his pace, experience and ability to strike with the new ball. Widely regarded as one of the leading fast bowlers in international cricket, Afridi has consistently delivered match-winning performances for both Pakistan and various franchise teams around the world. The franchise has yet to announce a replacement for the star pacer, and further details regarding his withdrawal have not been disclosed. Tournament organizers have respected the player’s decision and stated only that his absence is due to personal reasons. Despite Afridi’s withdrawal, the presence of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed ensures continued Pakistani representation in the Lanka Premier League. Fans will now be eager to see how the two players perform as they begin a new chapter in one of the region’s most competitive T20 tournaments.