During the intense ODI three-match series held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Pakistan national team appeared on the field in a new guise, abandoning its traditional green uniform for pink.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dedicated this match to the 'Pinktober' campaign with the aim of raising awareness about breast cancer. Players, as well as team staff and match officials, demonstrated their solidarity by wearing pink ribbons to draw public attention to this serious disease through sport.
The Chief Operating Officer of the PCB, Sumair Ahmed Saeed, issued an official statement regarding this special initiative, emphasizing that the Pakistan Cricket Board is fully aware of its social responsibility related to the popularity and influence of cricket in the country.
As for the match itself, the England team faced difficulties on the pitch in Lahore after the toss. At the time of reporting, England had scored 156 runs, losing 5 wickets in 29.4 overs. Pakistani bowlers showed brilliant play early in the game, containing the English batsmen.
Captain Shaheen Afridi displayed outstanding bowling performance, taking 3 crucial wickets while conceding 33 runs in 6.4 overs. Additionally, Haris Rauf also secured one wicket. Among the English batters, Ben Duckett opened the innings and played excellently, scoring 83 not out runs off 78 balls, including 9 fours and 2 sixes.
Sam Curran also played an important innings, scoring 42 runs in support of Ben Duckett, but he fell victim to Shaheen Afridi. Currently, the Pakistani bowlers maintain pressure, and it remains unknown what score the English team will manage to achieve in this pink match.
The Pakistan squad included Fakhar Zaman, Syed Ayub, Babar Azam, Saad Beg (as a wicketkeeper-batsman), Salman Aga, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhaj, Shaheen Afridi (captain), Rajoola, and Haris Rauf. The England squad consisted of Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jordan Cox (as a wicketkeeper-batsman), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Hassan Atkinson, and Henry Crombek.


