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Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in opening T20I of tri-nation series | The Express Tribune

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Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in opening T20I of tri-nation series | The Express Tribune


Batters Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan steered the hosts to a comfortable win with four balls remaining

Pakistan and Zimbabwe captains during the toss at the opening match of tri-nation T20I series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. PHOTO COURTESY: ZULFIQAR BAIG


RAWALPINDI:

The tri-nation T20 series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe began in Rawalpindi today, with Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe.

Pakistani middle-order won the match, as Fakhar Zaman led the team to finish the job with his 44 runs with the help of Usman Khan, who scored 37 runs, to chase the target of 148 runs.

Once Fakhar was out, Nawaz, who took two wickets earlier, showed grit with his valuable 21 runs toward the end with four balls remaining to ensure the win for Pakistan in the opening T20I of the series.

Spinner Mohammad Nawaz led Pakistani bowlers as he took two wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Saim Ayub, and Abrar managed to take a wicket each.

Opener Brian Bennett was the highest scorer for Zimbabwe with 49 runs and Tadiwanashe Marumani also scored 30 before leaving the pitch.

Sikandar Raza supported the collapsing batting order with his unbeaten 34 runs that contributed to a score of 147/8 for Zimbabwe.

Pakistan elected to filed first after winning the toss in the opening match in a cold weather on a slow pitch.

Pakistan elected to filed first after winning the toss in the opening match in a cold weather on a slow pitch.

All the matches of the series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

In the current Twenty20 season, Pakistan won the tri-nation T20 series played in the United Arab Emirates and the bilateral T20 series against South Africa while playing the final of the Asia Cup.

Pakistan T20 team captain Salman Ali Agha says that this tri-nation series is scheduled at the right time for Pakistan.

“It will provide an opportunity to play continuous cricket against two good teams in the group and will provide an opportunity to further refine our T20 planning before the important ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held next year.

“We have shown encouraging performance in recent months. Won the tri-nation series in Sharjah. Qualified for the Asia Cup final and won the white-ball series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. The team showed excellent discipline in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and we are hopeful of carrying that momentum into this series. We have seen great support for the home side from the Rawalpindi fans and we are expecting a high-quality match in this series as well,” he said that at the press conference on Monday.

Pakistan and Zimbabwe have played 21 T20 Internationals, of which Pakistan won 18 while Zimbabwe won three.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played 24 T20 Internationals, of which Pakistan won 14 and Sri Lanka has won 10.

The Pakistani squad consists of Salman Ali Agha (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq. T

The second match is on November 20, Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe, the third match will be played on November 22, Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, the fourth match on November 23, Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe, the fifth match on November 25, Zimbabwe vs. Sri Lanka, the sixth match on November 27, Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, while the final will be played on November 29.

Pakistan XI
Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.

Zimbabwe XI
Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (capt.), Bradley Evans, Brendan Taylor (wk), Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Graeme Cremer, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava.



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Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers enter offseason of uncertainty

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January 13, 2026

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After lopsided home playoff loss to the Texans, Pittsburgh’s quarterback and coach face questions about what’s next.



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Salman Ali Agha sets new record in third T20I against Sri Lanka – SUCH TV

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January 13, 2026

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Salman Ali Agha sets new record in third T20I against Sri Lanka – SUCH TV



Although the third T20I match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dambulla proved to be a disappointment for the national team, captain Salman Ali Agha’s brilliant and aggressive batting won the hearts of cricket fans and also broke the record of former West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard.

Salman Ali Agha played an incredible innings of 45 runs in just 12 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes.

His strike rate was 375.0, which is the highest strike rate by any captain in the history of T20Is (against full-member teams, with the condition of playing at least 10 balls).

With this feat, he broke the record of former West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard.

Previously, this honor was held by Kieron Pollard, who scored 38 runs off 11 balls against Sri Lanka in 2021 at a strike rate of 345.5.

The list also includes big names like Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma and Darren Sammy, but Salman Ali Agha left everyone behind.



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‘Swarm City’: Texans’ petty post at Steelers tops NFL wild-card trolls

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January 13, 2026

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‘Swarm City’: Texans’ petty post at Steelers tops NFL wild-card trolls


The NFL postseason brings elevated play on the field with the stakes higher — and one team even upped its pettiness.

The Houston Texans dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 to clinch the final divisional round spot. The Steelers’ 24-point loss is their worst in a home playoff game in franchise history and third worst in any playoff game, according to ESPN Research.

Houston’s defense allowed just 175 total yards and forced two turnovers — both of which were returned for scores. Pittsburgh forced three turnovers, but those resulted in only six points. The Steelers became the first team to score six or fewer points in a playoff game despite having at least three takeaways since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had 146 passing yards, while Texans signal-caller C.J. Stroud had 250 passing yards.

Houston made sure to poke fun at Pittsburgh after its victory. The Texans edited a “Welcome To Pittsburgh” sign by spray-painting the final score and “Swarm City” on it — a spin on Steel City. They also included the character from the Fallout video game series with the 713 Houston area code on the bottom.

Here are the top trolls from the NFL wild-card round.

The San Francisco 49ers upset the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road. The 49ers closed as a 5.5-point underdog — according to DraftKings Sportsbook — their third-largest upset win in a postseason game in the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN Research.

With 43 seconds left, Philadelphia faced a fourth-and-11 at San Francisco’s 21-yard-line with a chance to take the lead. But Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts‘ pass was incomplete, clinching a 49ers win. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Hurts had 168 passing yards and a touchdown.

The 49ers followed their massive victory by trolling the Eagles. They poked fun at Philadelphia’s “Fly Eagles Fly” chant, including spelling out “Eagles.” San Francisco instead spelled out “Niners” in its caption. It also wouldn’t be a troll without referencing a Philly cheesesteak, which the 49ers posted to emphasize that they are “still hungry for more.”

The Buffalo Bills held off the Jacksonville Jaguars for their first playoff road win since the 1992 AFC Championship Game, according to ESPN Research.

The fourth quarter included touchdowns on each of Jacksonville’s and Buffalo’s first two drives — both teams had only one touchdown apiece before the final quarter. The Bills capped a nine-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score from quarterback Josh Allen. The Jaguars had a chance to answer with just over a minute left, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence‘s pass was picked off, sending Buffalo to the next round.

After Jacksonville clinched the AFC South in Week 18, teammate and cornerback Jarrian Jones gave Lawrence a grill in the locker room. The moment was inspired by an AI photo someone posted on social media of Lawrence wearing a grill and a giant chain around his neck.

The Bills’ postgame graphic included what resembles a grill — with “Bills Win” written on it — buried in the sand at a beach. They also shared a photo of Allen rocking shades and a chain from a July 2024 video and resurfaced a Jaguars’ post from Friday.

The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Carolina Panthers in a wild opening playoff matchup.

Los Angeles and Carolina threw haymakers in the fourth, each scoring 14 points. There were four lead changes, tied for the most in a playoff game in NFL history. But the Rams had the go-ahead score when quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with tight end Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left. The Panthers turned it over on downs on their ensuing possession, clinching the Rams’ victory.

A huge win came with multiple clever trolls.

Los Angeles first posted a graphic of a hook with a string holding a football as a panther looked up with the caption referencing the sound commonly used to lure cats. The Rams then referenced a famous scene from the 1994 film “The Lion King,” when Rafiki presents a young Simba to the other animals as the future king. This time, Rafiki held the Panthers logo then tossed it.

ESPN Research contributed to this report.





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