
Asif and Awais reach Asian team championship semis
However, it was the three-time IBSF World Champion Muhammad Asif paired with Awais Munir who emerged as the winners from the quarterfinal encounter.
They defeated Muhammad Sajjad and Shahid Aftab in Pakistan 2 side 3-1, only dropping the second frame in the best-of-five match.
Asif and Awais took the first frame conveniently 74(52)-53(53) but Sajjad and Shahid levelled the match in the second frame, taking it 66-27. But Asif and Awais made sure that they make any mistakes in the following two frames 61-22, 78(62)-1 to seal the win.
Pakistan 1 will play Malaysia in the semifinal on Saturday.
The championship began on June 22nd and it will conclude on Sunday.
Earlier, Pakistan 2 were defeated by China 3-1, whereas Pakistan 1 defeated hosts Sri Lanka 1 3-1 in their first match of the day, and then Pakistan 2 defeated Sri Lankan 2 in their second match on Friday before booking the place in the all-Pakistan quarterfinal.
Today, Asif will be looking to win the championship to make up for his defeat in the Asian 6 Red men's championship, where he lost in the semifinal to Malaysia's Thor Chun Leong on Wednesday, finishing with a bronze medal.
Meanwhile, India will be taking on Hong Kong 1 in the first semifinal of the day on Saturday.
India defeated Qatar 3-0 in their quarterfinal and Hong Kong 1 outplayed Bahrain 3-0 to progress into the last-four round.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
SL's Nissanka on verge of cricketing greatness
Nissanka's exploits have been key to Sri Lanka's white-ball revival and now he has conquered the Test frontier with aplomb. PHOTO: AFP Pathum Nissanka has been ticking all the right boxes, and the Sri Lankan opener now has his sights set on something truly special - a place among the ICC's top ten batters across all three formats. Already ranked seventh in T20Is, the 27-year-old has made a compelling case in the longer formats, with a series of strong performances that have turned matches in Sri Lanka's favour. Last year, Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODI cricket. He followed that with a match-winning hundred at The Oval, helping Sri Lanka secure their first Test victory in England in ten years. Now, fresh from back-to-back centuries against Bangladesh - including a career-best 187 in Galle and a polished 158 in Colombo - Nissanka is building a foundation for greatness. Noted coach Sanath Jayasuriya told Telecom Asia Sport ( "In today's age of T20 razzle-dazzle, that kind of discipline is rare. When Pathum gets in, he doesn't give it away. That's what sets him apart." Yet, despite his composure, the elusive Test double hundred still awaits. Twice the second new ball has ended his innings. But once he learns to navigate that challenge, his run-scoring potential could increase dramatically. His teammates believe the goal is more than a top-ten ranking - it's the top spot. Publicly, he admires Virat Kohli and aims to break into the elite club. Privately, those close to him whisper of grander ambitions - becoming the number one batter in the world. Nissanka's rise has been key to Sri Lanka's white-ball revival. After missing out on Champions Trophy qualification - a tough setback for a nation that once redefined ODI cricket - Sri Lanka has climbed to fourth in the ICC rankings, with series wins over India and Australia. Off the field, Nissanka commands respect. During last year's England tour, he was appointed 'discipline officer' - famously fining Sanath Jayasuriya himself for littering. Jayasuriya took it in good humour, much to the amusement of the squad. Kamindu Mendis, who played alongside him at under-19 level and is now a teammate, says Nissanka's simplicity is deceptive. "He makes batting look so easy. When I'm at the other end, it rubs off on me." It's rare for a Sri Lankan player to look equally comfortable in whites and coloured clothing, against spin and pace, home and away. The last to do so consistently was Kumar Sangakkara. Nissanka's numbers are climbing. So is the anticipation. If he continues to score runs and stay calm under pressure, the boy from Kalutara could soon join cricket's elite.


Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
Asif and Awais reach Asian team championship semis
It was a big day for Pakistan at the Asian 6 Red & Team Championship 2025 on Friday as four top cueists in two teams, Pakistan 1 and Pakistan 2 contended for the semifinal spot in Colombo on Friday. However, it was the three-time IBSF World Champion Muhammad Asif paired with Awais Munir who emerged as the winners from the quarterfinal encounter. They defeated Muhammad Sajjad and Shahid Aftab in Pakistan 2 side 3-1, only dropping the second frame in the best-of-five match. Asif and Awais took the first frame conveniently 74(52)-53(53) but Sajjad and Shahid levelled the match in the second frame, taking it 66-27. But Asif and Awais made sure that they make any mistakes in the following two frames 61-22, 78(62)-1 to seal the win. Pakistan 1 will play Malaysia in the semifinal on Saturday. The championship began on June 22nd and it will conclude on Sunday. Earlier, Pakistan 2 were defeated by China 3-1, whereas Pakistan 1 defeated hosts Sri Lanka 1 3-1 in their first match of the day, and then Pakistan 2 defeated Sri Lankan 2 in their second match on Friday before booking the place in the all-Pakistan quarterfinal. Today, Asif will be looking to win the championship to make up for his defeat in the Asian 6 Red men's championship, where he lost in the semifinal to Malaysia's Thor Chun Leong on Wednesday, finishing with a bronze medal. Meanwhile, India will be taking on Hong Kong 1 in the first semifinal of the day on Saturday. India defeated Qatar 3-0 in their quarterfinal and Hong Kong 1 outplayed Bahrain 3-0 to progress into the last-four round.


Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Muhammad Asif reaches Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship semi-finals
Listen to article Pakistan's veteran cueist and three-time world champion Muhammad Asif has confirmed a medal for his country after storming into the semi-finals of the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka. On the third day of the competition, Asif overcame a tough challenge from Malaysia's Kim Ko Leong during the quarter-finals, registering a hard-fought 5-3 victory to book his place in the last four. Earlier in the pre-quarterfinals, Asif comfortably defeated Cambodia's Nyang Tola 5-1, conceding just one frame en route to the quarterfinals and ensuring at least a bronze medal finish. However, it was disappointment for the other two Pakistani cueists. Defending champion Awais Munir and former Asian champion Mohammad Sajjad were both knocked out in the pre-quarterfinals. Munir, who was hoping to retain his title, was eliminated by Hong Kong's Ming Wa Man in a closely contested 5-3 encounter. Meanwhile, Sajjad was handed a straight 5-0 defeat by Singapore's Sng Eain Yow in a one-sided affair. Asif will now face Malaysia's Thor Chuan Leong in the semi-final on Wednesday (today).