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IND vs PAK CT Update, Anmolpreet’s Ton And BBL Thrillers – December 21 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Anmolpreet Singh [Source: @lokeshgarg_94, @TheStatsKid1523/x]Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Anmolpreet Singh [Source: @lokeshgarg_94, @TheStatsKid1523/x]

AM Ghazanfar spun out Zimbabwe to steer Afghanistan to a remarkable series win in Harare. Team India’s highly-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 match against arch-rivals Pakistan received a tentative date, while ex-SRH star Anmolpreet Singh made waves at the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy after going unsold at the IPL 2025 auction.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest news that emerged out of Saturday, December 21.

AM Ghazanfar Takes Five As Afghanistan Clinch Series

Afghanistan’s teenage spin wizard AM Ghazanfar dismantled Zimbabwe’s batting line-up at the Harare Sports Club by collecting astonishing figures of 5-33 from his 10 overs. After dismissing both Zimbabwean openers, Ghazanfar cleaned up Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wellington Masakadza for ducks before adding Newman Nyamhuri to his tally of victims.

His senior teammate Rashid Khan also picked up three wickets in the innings as the hosts folded up for just 127 in 30.1 overs. In response, Afghanistan opener Sediqullah Atal cracked 52 runs at better than a run-a-ball while unbeaten Rahmat Shah (17* off 23) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (20* off 22) cruised the visitors to an eight-wicket win in just 26.5 overs. By recording their second successive win on the tour after the opening ODI washout, Afghanistan clinched the three-match ODI series by a 2-0 margin.

Hurricanes, Sixers Pull Off Final-Over Run-Chases

Hobart Hurricanes upstaged Perth Scorchers in Hobart while Sydney Sixers toppled Sydney Thunder in an exhilarating Sydney Derby in matches number seven and eight of the BBL 2024-25 season. For the Hurricanes, opening batter Mitchell Owen ran riot with a blistering century, scoring 101 unbeaten runs in all from just 64 balls to pull off an eight-wicket victory in 19.2 overs. Earlier in the match, new ball paceman Riley Meredith restricted the Scorchers to 155-6 with three key wickets to claim figures of 3-27.

Later in the Australian evening, Ben Dwarshuis demonstrated his all-round class for the Sydney Sixers in their five-wicket win off the last ball. After picking up figures of 2-26 with the ball to restrict Thunder to 163-5, the cricketer clubbed 20* off just eight balls, which included a match-defining hit off the penultimate delivery.

Anmolpreet Singh Roars With 35-Ball Vijay Hazare Century

Punjab’s number three batter Anmolpreet Singh brought up a 35-ball century against Arunachal Pradesh in the Group C match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 season at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Overall, the 26-year-old clobbered 115* runs from just 45 balls with 12 boundaries and nine huge sixes.

Anmolpreet’s blitzkrieg marked the fastest List A century by an Indian, and the third fastest overall, besting Corey Anderson’s 36-ball ton from 2014. Interestingly, the former Mumbai Indians star was released by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise earlier this year, and the youngster also went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction.

IND vs PAK Champions Trophy 2025 Match Receives A Tentative Date

As per a tentative schedule, the Indian cricket team will face Pakistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy on February 23 next year. While the eight-team competition was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in its entirety, India’s share of matches will be played at a neutral venue.

Rohit Sharma’s troops will launch their tournament campaign with a match against Bangladesh on February 20 before going up against their arch-rivals. For their final group fixture, Team India will face New Zealand on March 2.

Ex-CSK Star Sameer Rizvi Blasts 97-Ball Double Ton

Ex-CSK star Sameer Rizvi smeared 201 runs from just 97 balls in an Under-23 State A Trophy match match against Tripura on December 21. The 21-year-old launched 13 boundaries and 20 towering maximums in his thunderous knock after arriving to the crease in the 23rd over of the Uttar Pradesh innings.

Notably, the youngster was snapped by the Delhi Capitals franchise last month for the impending IPL 2025 season.