Pakistan Champions begin WCL 2025 campaign with narrow win over England

Pakistan Champions kicked off their World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 campaign with a close five-run win over England Champions at Edgbaston on Friday, thanks to a solid half-century from Mohammad Hafeez and a disciplined bowling effort.

Batting first, Pakistan Champions posted 160/9 in their 20 overs after being put in to bat by England skipper Eoin Morgan. Despite a shaky start that saw both openers — Sharjeel Khan (12) and Kamran Akmal (6) — dismissed early, Hafeez held the innings together with a composed 34-ball 54, which included eight fours.

Umar Amin was run out after a brief stand with Hafeez, while wickets kept falling at the other end. Hafeez finally found support from Aamer Yamin, and the pair added 32 crucial runs for the seventh wicket. Hafeez fell in the 17th over, but Yamin finished strongly, smashing 27 runs off just 13 balls, including three sixes. He hammered 22 runs off the final over, bowled by James Vince.

For England, Chris Tremlett and Liam Plunkett picked up two wickets each, while Stuart Meaker, Ryan Sidebottom, Dimitri Mascarenhas, and Vince chipped in with one apiece.

In reply, England Champions fell just short at 155/3, despite strong knocks from Phil Mustard and Ian Bell. The chase got off to a slow start, with Alastair Cook (7) bowled by Rumman Raees in the fifth over.

Mustard then built a short 20-run stand with Vince (7), who fell to Aamer Yamin. He later added 55 runs with Bell for the third wicket, before being dismissed by Sohail Tanvir. Mustard scored 58 from 51 balls, hitting eight boundaries.

Bell kept England in the hunt with a steady 51 off 35 balls, including five fours and two sixes. He remained unbeaten and added 48 runs with Eoin Morgan (16*) for the fourth wicket, but the target proved just out of reach.

Pakistan's bowlers held their nerve in the final overs, with Raees, Yamin, and Tanvir each taking one wicket.

With this win, Pakistan Champions earned two points and moved to the top of the WCL 2025 table, while England Champions were left at the bottom after the opening match.