ISLAMABAD: Pakistan concluded their World Cup preparations on a disappointing note, losing their second warm-up match to former champions Australia by 14 runs in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
The green shirts, who lost their first warm-up match to New Zealand on Friday when the Kiwis beat them by five wickets, continue a dismal run to the World Cup which includes a massive loss to India and another to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup last month.
Shadab Khan, who was captaining the side instead of Babar Azam, took Pakistan’s loss to Australia well.
“Result is not important. We took a lot of positives,” he said at the post-match ceremony. “Our attitude was good, result not in our hands. I think our 11 is sorted, we just wanted to give time to the bench to show their skills.”
Australia managed to score a respectable 351-7 from 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat. Aussie batter Glen Maxwell top-scored with 77 runs from 71 balls, hitting six sixes during his innings while Cameron Green and Josh Inglis provided ample support at the lower order with scores of 50 and 48 respectively.
Usama Mir was once again the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, returning figures of 2-31 from five overs while Mohammad Wasim Junior, Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Haris Rauf each took a wicket.
Rauf, one of Pakistan’s most lethal pacers, conceded a whopping 97 runs from the nine overs he bowled while left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled only six overs and gave away 29 runs.
Pakistan’s openers once again failed to live up to the mark, with left-handed batters Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq scoring only 22 and 16 runs respectively. Abdullah Shafique scored 12 runs while Khan was dismissed for 9 before skipper Azam took the crease.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam built a solid partnership of 144 runs, propelling Pakistan to a respectable position when all looked lost. However, Ahmed was dismissed on 83 from 85 balls while Azam retired out on 90 from 59 balls.
Nawaz scored a much-needed 50 but it wasn’t enough to help Pakistan to victory, as he didn’t receive support from Pakistan’s lower order comprising Salman Ali Agha, Wasim Junior, and Hassan Ali.
Pakistan were bowled out for 337 runs in 47.4 overs with Marnus Labuschagne returning figures of 3-78, Mitchell Marsh 2-43, and Pat Cummins 2-34. Maxwell and Sean Abbott each picked up a wicket as well.
Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday.
Pakistan end World Cup preparations on dismal note by losing to Australia
https://arab.news/wtjqc
Pakistan end World Cup preparations on dismal note by losing to Australia
- Pakistan were bowled out for 337 in response to Australia’s 351-7
- Pakistan lost to New Zealand in their first warm-up match last week
Race to Dubai leader Schaper chases third consecutive victory at Dubai Invitational
- Schaper joins a field that includes defending champion Tommy Fleetwood and 5-time Major champion Rory McIlroy
DUBAI: Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper will look to maintain his sensational early-season form when he competes at the Dubai Invitational from Jan. 15 to 18.
The 24-year-old South African is riding high after a spectacular Opening Swing that yielded back-to-back victories and propelled him to the summit of the 2026 rankings.
Schaper’s breakthrough came at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on home soil, where he captured his maiden DP World Tour title in a thrilling play-off victory over defending champion Shaun Norris.
A chip-in birdie at the 16th and an eagle at the first extra hole sealed a memorable win that ended years of knocking on the door.
Just one week later, he demonstrated remarkable composure to defend his play-off crown at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, holing out for eagle on the second extra hole to defeat American Ryan Gerard.
“Obviously I had such a good finish to the year in 2025 — having a win back home with the family watching and then going down to Mauritius and having just another incredible week,” said Schaper.
“I’m just looking forward to the start of this run now, as the Desert Swing is always one of my favorites of the year. The weather is good and the golf courses are always perfect — it’s such an awesome place to be.”
Across three appearances during the Opening Swing, Schaper won twice and finished runner-up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honor of Gary Player, amassing 1,348 points to dominate the season’s opening phase.
His Opening Swing triumph secured him entry into the Hero Dubai Desert Classic — the first of five Rolex Series events — and all of the DP World Tour’s Back 9 events, along with a $200,000 bonus.
The rapid ascent comes on the back of a consistent 2025 campaign where he collected nine top-10 finishes from 27 starts, establishing himself as one of the Tour’s most promising talents.
“It’s a massive boost (the back-end of 2025),” said Schaper.
“I think it’s more the belief. I’ve been out on Tour for a few years now, and to get your first win is a massive bonus. But to wait five years for your first win and then get your second the week after is such a special feeling.
“Obviously both wins came in a play-off. You always want to be in the play-off, but it’s a tougher way to win. So, it’s just a huge confidence boost to know that you belong out here.
For Schaper, the Dubai Invitational represents an opportunity to make it three wins and build momentum ahead of a season featuring a minimum of 42 tournaments in 25 countries.
“It’s my first time out there today and the course is really nice,” said Schaper.
“It’s got that desert feel, you’re kind of on the water and on the dunes — it’s really nice, I do enjoy it.
“Obviously when you come out here, you want to win every week, so that’s what we’ll try and do out here. It will be a nice boost to the season, so that’s the goal.”
The Dubai Invitational is the opening event on the Race to Dubai's International Swing and is played concurrently with a three-day Pro-Am team event, with Sunday featuring professionals only.
The bi-annual event consists of 60 professional DP World Tour golfers and 60 amateur golfers.
Schaper joins a field that includes defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, five-time Major champion Rory McIlroy, and Open champions Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Francesco Molinari.
Also playing are multiple DP World Tour winners, including Ryan Fox and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
