Pakistan Shaheens Win Two Out of Three CT Warm-Ups: Pakistan Shaheens continued their impressive form in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 warm-up matches with a dominant seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at the ICC Academy on Monday. The victory was set up by a stellar bowling performance, followed by a composed batting display.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh struggled to build momentum and were eventually bowled out for a modest 202 in 38.2 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz fought valiantly with a gritty 44, while Soumya Sarkar (35) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (30) contributed handy runs. However, the Bangladeshi batters found it difficult to counter the Shaheens’ bowling attack, particularly Usama Mir, who was the star with the ball. The leg-spinner claimed four wickets for just 43 runs, dismantling the middle order. Right-arm pacer Musa Khan provided excellent support, picking up two crucial wickets to keep Bangladesh under pressure throughout their innings.
In reply, Pakistan Shaheens chased down the target with ease, losing only three wickets. The batters displayed a collective effort, ensuring there were no hiccups in the chase. The comfortable win marked the Shaheens’ second victory in the warm-up matches, further solidifying their preparations for the upcoming tournament.
Shaheens Fall Short Against South Africa in Simultaneous Fixture
While one Shaheens squad triumphed over Bangladesh, another faced a tough challenge against South Africa at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Despite posting a strong total, the Shaheens were unable to defend it, suffering a narrow three-wicket defeat.
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Batting first, the Shaheens put up an imposing 322/8 in their allotted overs, thanks to brilliant centuries from skipper Muhammad Huraira and experienced opener Imam-ul-Haq. Huraira was in sublime touch, scoring 110 off 114 deliveries, including 12 fours and a six. Imam narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 98 off 94 balls, with six fours and a six to his name. Their partnership laid a solid foundation, but the middle order couldn’t capitalize fully in the latter stages of the innings.
In response, South Africa chased down the target with six balls to spare, finishing at 323/7. The Proteas’ batting lineup delivered a collective effort, with Rassie van der Dussen (62), Ryan Rickelton (57), Tony de Zorzi (55), and Aiden Markram (54) all scoring half-centuries. Wiaan Mulder provided the finishing touches with a blistering 42 off just 30 balls, including three fours and three sixes, to seal the win.
For the Shaheens, Niaz Khan and Mehran Mumtaz were the standout bowlers, claiming two wickets each. However, their efforts weren’t enough to prevent South Africa from clinching the game.
