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  • FDA Approves New Option for NCFB

    FDA Approves New Option for NCFB

    The FDA has approved brensocatib tablets in 10-mg and 25-mg doses as once-daily treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) in adults and children aged 12 years or older, according to a press release from manufacturer Insmed.

    NCFB affects approximately 500,000 individuals in the US and millions globally, according to the press release. The condition is distinct from other respiratory infections, in that it involves widening of the airways rather than narrowing.

    Exacerbations involving coughing, increased mucus, and shortness of breath are common and disruptive, but targeted treatments have been lacking, according to the company. Brensocatib, marketed as Brinsupri, is a first-in-class inhibitor of DPP-1, designed to prevent the activation of neutrophils that drive the chronic airway inflammation in patients with NCFB, according to the press release.

    The approval was based on data from a phase 3 study known as ASPEN and a phase 2 study known as WILLOW. In the ASPEN study, patients with NCFB (1689 adults and 41 adolescents) randomized to 10 mg or 25 mg brensocatib daily had a 21.1% and 19.4% reduction in annual exacerbations, respectively, compared to placebo at 52 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second declined significantly in brensocatib patients compared to placebo patients, and significantly more brensocatib patients on either dose were exacerbation-free at 52 weeks.

    The WILLOW study, a 24-week randomized controlled trial, established the drug’s safety and efficacy based on time to first exacerbation. Brensocatib at both the 10-mg and 25-mg doses significantly extended the time to first exacerbation compared to placebo, and safety data showed no obvious relationships to treatment. Adverse events were mild to moderate in 66%, 88%, and 75% of the placebo, 10 mg, and 25 mg groups, respectively, and serious adverse events were similar across the groups. One death caused by progression of bronchiectasis was reported in a patient in the 25 mg brensocatib group.

    The approval authorizes the first treatment that directly targets the root cause of NCFB exacerbations, said ASPEN investigator Doreen Addrizzo-Harris, MD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, in the press release. “Based on the strength of the data and the impact we’ve seen in patients, I believe this could become the new standard in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis care,” she said.

    Brensocatib is indicated for treatment of NCFB at doses of 10 mg or 25 mg once daily in adults and adolescents aged 12 years or older, with no current contraindications, according to the prescribing information.

    Brensocatib is now available through a specialty pharmacy network in the US. In addition, brensocatib applications have been accepted by the European Medicines Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and filing of an application in Japan is pending, according to the company, which expects commercial launches in these areas in 2026.

    The ASPEN and WILLOW studies were funded by brensocatib manufacturer Insmed.

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  • New rocket plans continue to emerge to support China’s growing space ambitions

    New rocket plans continue to emerge to support China’s growing space ambitions

    HELSINKI — China’s state-owned and commercial rocket makers have plans for yet more new launch vehicles, despite an already competitive field and imminent test flights.

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    Andrew Jones covers China’s space industry for SpaceNews. Andrew has previously lived in China and reported from major space conferences there. Based in Helsinki, Finland, he has written for National Geographic, New Scientist, Smithsonian Magazine, Sky… More by Andrew Jones


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  • Famine declared in Gaza with ‘Israel’s blockade, war to blame’

    Famine declared in Gaza with ‘Israel’s blockade, war to blame’

    GAZA CITY: The world’s leading authority on food crises said Friday the Gaza Strip’s largest city is gripped by famine, and that it is likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.

    The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said famine is occurring in Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and that it could spread south to Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month.

    The IPC determination comes after months of warnings by aid groups that Israel’s restrictions of food and other aid into Gaza, and its military offensive, were causing high levels of starvation among Palestinian civilians, particularly children.

    Gaza City offensive could exacerbate hunger

    The grim milestone — the first time the IPC has confirmed a famine in the Middle East — is sure to ramp up international pressure on Israel, which has been in a brutal war with Hamas since the militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Israel says it plans to escalate the war soon by seizing Gaza City and other Hamas strongholds, which experts say will exacerbate the hunger crisis.

    The IPC said hunger has been driven by fighting and the blockade of aid, and magnified by widespread displacement and the collapse of food production in Gaza, pushing hunger to life-threatening levels across the entire territory after 22 months of war.

    More than half a million people in Gaza, about a quarter of the population, face catastrophic levels of hunger, and many are at risk of dying from malnutrition-related causes, the IPC report said. Last month, the IPC said the “worst-case scenario of famine” was unfolding in Gaza, but stopped short of an official determination.

    Israel disputes report of famine

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied there is hunger in Gaza, calling reports of starvation “lies” promoted by Hamas. After the publication of images of emaciated children in Gaza and reports of hunger-related deaths, Israel announced measures to let more humanitarian aid in. Yet the UN and Palestinians in Gaza say what’s entering is far below what’s needed.

    The Israeli military agency in charge of transferring aid to the territory rejected the report Friday, calling it “false and biased.” The agency, known as COGAT, rejected the claim that there was famine in Gaza and said that significant steps had been taken to expand the amount of aid entering the strip in recent weeks.

    In a post on social media, Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs also rejected the findings, saying the IPC report was “based on Hamas lies.” It said that more than 100,000 trucks of aid have entered Gaza since the start of the war, including a massive influx in recent weeks with staple foods.

    “A rapidly increasing number of people, especially young children, are dying preventable deaths from starvation and disease because Israel made starvation a core part of its campaign to control the strip,” said Chris Newton, an analyst for the International Crisis Group.

    Israel’s plan to escalate the war in Gaza City weeks after a warning that famine was beginning there demonstrates how “intentional the famine is and how Israel wields starvation,” he said.

    Netanyahu says more military pressure is needed to achieve Israel’s goals of freeing the hostages held by Hamas and eliminating the militant group altogether.

    How a famine is determined

    Formal famine determinations are rare. The IPC has previously determined famines in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and parts of Sudan’s western Darfur region last year.

    The IPC, a coalition of monitors tasked by the UN to warn of impending crises, says a famine exists in an area when all three of the following conditions are confirmed:

    At least 20 percent of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving. At least 30 percent of children 6 months to 5 years old suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, based on a weight-to-height measurement; or 15 percent of that age group suffer from acute malnutrition based on the circumference of their upper arm. And at least two people, or four children under 5, per 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.

    Israel’s offensive and its restrictions on access to Gaza have made collecting data difficult.

    The data analyzed between July 1 and Aug. 15 showed clear evidence that thresholds for starvation and acute malnutrition have been reached. Gathering data for mortality has been harder, but the IPC said it is reasonable to conclude from the evidence that the necessary threshold has likely been reached.

    The IPC warned that a third of Gaza’s population could face catastrophic levels of hunger by the end of September, and that this is probably an undercount.

    Alex de Waal, author of “Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine” and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, said that had Israel allowed the IPC better access to collect data, a famine might have been determined months ago, which would have raised global awareness sooner.

    “Sadly, it seems that it’s necessary for experts to shout ‘famine!’ before the world takes notice, by which time it is too late,” he said.

    Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war. In March, it cut off the entry of all goods, including fuel, food and medicine, to pressure Hamas to free hostages.

    Israel eased those restrictions in May and says there’s currently no limit on how many aid trucks can enter Gaza. But it also pushed ahead with a new US-backed aid delivery system that requires Palestinians to travel long distances and pass through Israeli military lines to get aid.

    The traditional, UN-led aid providers say deliveries have been hampered by Israeli military restrictions and incidents of looting, while criminals and hungry crowds overwhelm entering convoys.

    Witnesses, health officials and the UN rights office say hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli forces while seeking aid from both providers, while Israel says it has only fired warning shots and that the toll is exaggerated.

    A parent in Gaza City watches his children waste away

    On the eve of the war, Gaza City was home to some 700,000 people, about the population of Washington.

    Throughout the conflict, it has been the focus of regular Israeli bombardment and ground operations. Several neighborhoods have been almost completely destroyed. Hundreds of thousands fled under Israeli evacuation orders at the start of the war but many returned during a ceasefire earlier this year.

    Doctors and nurses in Gaza in recent weeks have seen rising numbers of visibly malnourished patients.

    Kirsty Blacka, an Australian emergency nurse who worked in Gaza City’s Al-Quds hospital through June, said emaciated men with no preexisting conditions were coming in looking like teenagers because they were starving.

    She said the lack of food has been compounded by contaminated water causing diarrhea and infections, and that diseases are harder to recover from when people are malnourished.

    If Israel evacuates people from the city ahead of its new offensive, thousands will be too weak to leave, said Blacka. “Because of the starvation it will put extra strain on already depleted bodies and will lead to the death of many of the Palestinians,” she said.

    Families in Gaza City say they’re watching their loved ones waste away.

    Yousef Sbeteh’s two teenage children were injured by shrapnel during an Israeli airstrike in June and have spent the last two months in the hospital. While there, they’ve both lost weight because there hasn’t been enough food, he said, adding that he can’t afford to buy more because prices at markets have soared. Doctors say the teenagers had no preexisting conditions.

    His 15-year-old daughter Aya lost nearly 20 kilograms (44 pounds), or about 30 percent of her body weight, according to her doctors. Her 17-year-old brother Ahmad has lost about 15 kilograms (33 pounds). The lack of nutritional supplements and healthy food is slowing their recovery, doctors say.

    “Doctors say she needs protein, meat and fish,” Sbeteh said while sitting beside his frail daughter. “But I can’t provide that now.”

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  • Island foxes evolved bigger brains to help them survive

    Island foxes evolved bigger brains to help them survive

    For decades, biologists thought isolation on islands nudged animals toward smaller bodies, tamer behavior, and shrunken brains – an energy-saving suite dubbed “island syndrome.”

    However, a new study of Channel Islands foxes complicates that picture. Most of these cat-sized predators evolved relatively larger brains than their mainland gray fox cousins, suggesting that cognitive demands – more than isolation itself – can drive brain size.


    The work, led by researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, argues that brain evolution on islands is shaped by the pressures of survival on the ground.

    Fox brains break the mold

    Lead author Kimberly Schoenberger argued that the results overturn a long-held assumption.

    “It was most surprising to discover that island syndrome isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said Schoenberger. “When we looked at carnivores like Channel Island foxes, the pattern of smaller brains didn’t hold.”

    That departure matters because most previous brain-size studies focused on island herbivores – animals that face different challenges than hunters and omnivores.

    By spotlighting a small carnivore, the team shows that the “rules” of island evolution can fracture along ecological lines.

    Six islands, one natural experiment

    The Channel Islands – an eight-island chain off Southern California – provide a rare, replicated testbed. Six islands host endemic fox subspecies.

    The researchers compared those island foxes to mainland gray foxes, their closest living relatives and probable ancestors, and also contrasted the island subspecies with one another.

    If isolation or island area alone drove brain shrinkage, the team would expect a simple pattern. Instead, they found that brain-to-body ratios lined up more closely with local habitat demands than with geography.

    On five islands – Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Santa Catalina, San Clemente, and San Miguel – the foxes had relatively larger brains despite their smaller bodies.

    Those brains showed deeper folds and ridges in regions tied to motor control and spatial processing. Such traits help the animals navigate rugged terrain, remember scattered resources, and compete for scarce shelter.

    On two of those islands, foxes share space with rivals like the spotted skunk, raising the bar for fast decisions and agile movement.

    Brains shrink when survival is simple

    San Nicolas, the most remote and resource-limited island in the study, told the opposite story. There, foxes had smaller relative brains. With few predators, low biodiversity, and a thin menu of foods, the researchers inferred that the foxes faced fewer cognitive demands.

    Under those constraints, conserving energy for the basics – staying warm, finding enough calories – may have outweighed the payoff of maintaining larger brain tissue.

    “The Channel Island foxes show that brain size reduction is not a universal feature of island life,” Schoenberger said. “It depends on the pressures each species faces.”

    Measuring fox minds from bones

    To trace brain evolution through time, the team worked with more than 250 skulls representing six island fox subspecies and four gray fox subspecies. These specimens came from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

    The researchers first estimated body mass from skull measurements and validated those estimates against recorded weights from live-caught island foxes. That gave them a solid baseline for comparing brain-to-body ratios.

    For brain size, they used microbeads to measure braincase volume – a reliable proxy when brains are absent. They then CT-scanned the skulls to build 3D models of the cranial cavities.

    The scans confirmed the volume estimates and revealed subtle differences in the surfaces where brain folds press into bone. These patterns allowed the team to infer changes in regions linked to movement and spatial awareness.

    Fox brains bend to fit

    The digital reconstructions uncovered a telling feature: island foxes had shorter, more compact frontal areas of the braincase than mainland gray foxes. The researchers linked that to the foxes’ shorter snouts, which reduce available space at the front of the skull.

    To compensate, the island foxes developed slightly deeper cortical folds and more pronounced ridges in that region. This preserved space for circuitry supporting motor control and navigation – skills especially useful for climbing trees and foraging in complex terrain.

    Both island and gray foxes are the only canids known to climb, but island foxes rely on arboreal foraging more often, likely because ground resources are leaner.

    The study also found no difference in brain size between males and females. This points away from sexual selection and toward shared environmental pressures as the main driver of change.

    Foxes stayed wild with humans

    Genetic and radiocarbon evidence suggests foxes first reached the northern Channel Islands roughly 9,000 years ago. They may have arrived by rafting on storm debris or by swimming shorter channels when sea levels were lower.

    Thousands of years later, Indigenous peoples may have helped move foxes to other islands – likely as pest control rather than pets.

    Despite that long association with humans, island foxes never became truly domesticated. Unlike early domestic dogs, which show brain shrinkage as they grew dependent on people, island foxes retained wild-type behaviors and brain sizes befitting self-sufficient hunters.

    Brains matter for survival

    As climate change and development carve mainland habitats into island-like fragments, understanding which traits help animals cope could guide management.

    The Channel Islands fox suggests that cognitive flexibility and problem-solving can be part of the survival toolkit – when ecosystems still offer enough resources to support those costly traits.

    Yet the foxes’ low genetic diversity makes them vulnerable to disease and rapid environmental shifts, underscoring the need to protect habitats that sustain both bodies and brains.

    Island syndrome, it turns out, is not a single script but a library of local stories. On five Channel Islands, small bodies came paired with relatively big brains. On the sixth, the opposite prevailed.

    Together, those outcomes point to a simple conclusion with big implications: the brain follows the work that needs doing, and on islands, that work depends on the world outside the skull as much as on the DNA within it.

    The study is published in the journal PLOS One.

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  • Baker McKenzie Luxembourg and University of Lorraine Partner to Launch Scholarship | Newsroom

    Baker McKenzie Luxembourg and University of Lorraine Partner to Launch Scholarship | Newsroom

    Baker McKenzie is proud to announce its collaboration with the University of Lorraine through the Baker McKenzie Scholarship. This meaningful initiative underscores the Firm’s commitment to fostering equal opportunity and promoting diversity within the legal profession. It is designed to support outstanding students enrolled in a Master 1 or Master 2 in Law program by offering a unique career opportunity and financial support.

    Launched in January 2025 through a communication campaign within the University of Lorraine, the selection process attracted many talented individuals. Out of the many applications submitted, five students were invited to a final interview at Baker McKenzie’s Luxembourg office. The jury, which consisted of Jean-François Findling, Amar Hamouche, Elodie Duchene and Claire Danda was genuinely impressed by candidates’ remarkable presentations and unwavering determination. 

    Following the interviews, two exceptional laureates were chosen: Emma Boutra and Iris Okom, who were awarded an internship as well as financial support. To recognize their talent and commitment, the three other finalists have also been offered an internship. The Firm would like to extend sincere congratulations to all the participants for their dedication and authenticity, which made this inaugural edition truly memorable.

    Here are testimonials from the laureates:

    Mina Colson: 
    “The opportunity to complete my internship at Baker McKenzie in Luxembourg allowed me to confirm my particular interest in investment funds, significantly broaden my knowledge and reflect on the challenges of tomorrow.”

    Mariama Ndiaye: 
    “Working in Baker McKenzie’s international environment enabled me to affirm my interest in cross-border taxation and concretely prepare for the next chapter of my academic journey in Madrid.”

    Emma Boutra: 
    “Receiving the Baker McKenzie Scholarship is more than an honor, it’s a tangible boost to build the career I dream of: passing the CRFPA, pursuing an LLM abroad and practicing law beyond borders as a lawyer.”

    Iris Okom: 
    “The Baker McKenzie scholarship enabled me to finance my year of study abroad, a key step in my career. This concrete support, together with the internship offered, gives me the necessary impetus to build an international career and represents a valuable opportunity to discover the demands of the professional world within a firm of international excellence.”

    We look forward to continuing this wonderful story with the University of Lorraine and welcoming our next talents!

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  • New Method Revolutionizes Large-Scale Metabolite Analysis

    New Method Revolutionizes Large-Scale Metabolite Analysis

    More images available via the link in the notes section

    Researchers from the McCullagh Group in Oxford University’s Department of Chemistry have published an innovative method in Nature Protocols today (22 August) that provides comprehensive analysis of metabolites found in cells, tissues and biofluids.

    The new method delivers a step-change in capability for analysing highly polar and ionic metabolites. The innovation comes from using anion-exchange chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (AEC-MS) to meet a long-standing need for improving the large-scale analysis of highly polar and ionic metabolites which drive primary metabolic pathways and processes in cells.

    Ion-exchange chromatography has been used by generations of chemists since the 1970s, but historically it has been very difficult to couple directly to mass spectrometry, unlike other types of chromatography. The new method uses electrolytic ion-suppression which links the high-performance ion-exchange chromatography system directly with mass spectrometry, an innovation that improves molecular specificity and selectivity. This has led to new applications that were recently reviewed by the McCullagh Group ( Ngere et al., Anal. Chem., 2023). The new method is designed for metabolomics applications which involve the large-scale analysis of metabolites in biological samples.

    Rachel Williams , a D.Phil. student in the McCullagh Group, whose research focusses on the development of ion-exchange chromatography-mass spectrometry, said, “Ion-exchange chromatography offers a retention and elution mechanism which is new to metabolomics and is proving to be a powerful solution for long-standing analytical challenges in the field.”

    Metabolomics, is one of several ‘omics’ technologies, that include genomics and proteomics, offering a powerful combinatorial approach to comprehensively analyse molecular systems in cells, tissues and whole organisms. Changes in metabolite levels are sensitive biomarkers for specific diseases, diets, nutritional states, treatments and chemical exposures and metabolomics provides a tool for discovering these molecular changes. It can be applied to research questions in many disciplines, including biological chemistry, molecular biology, molecular medicine, pharmacology and environmental science.

    The new AEC-MS protocol has been used in several research studies including in collaboration with the Kennedy Institute, Oxford to investigate how the gut microbiome utilises energy substrates. This led to the discovery that the microbiome-derived energy substrate product butyrate is found in circulation and can help bolster the host immune response ( Schulthess et al., Immunity, 2019 ).

    In another study it was used to investigate metabolism in diabetic pancreatic β-cells. We found the activity of GAPDH and PDH (enzymes involved in the production of ATP from glucose) were inhibited when glucose levels increased, leading to the accumulation of upstream intermediates which caused changes in gene expression including impaired insulin secretion and build-up of glycogen ( Haythorne et al., Nat. Comms., 2023 ).

    Professor James McCullagh (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford) who led the project, said: “Developing a new metabolomics protocol is very exciting, it expands capability for existing applications but also enables us to explore and develop new applications: in our lab we are now applying the protocol in several research areas including investigating gut microbiome metabolism, how antimicrobial resistance impacts bacterial metabolism and in the discovery of biomarkers for the early detection of cancer.”

    /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

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  • Rare flu warning in US: Doctors say it can turn deadly even in healthy children; know warning signs and who is at risk |

    Rare flu warning in US: Doctors say it can turn deadly even in healthy children; know warning signs and who is at risk |

    As flu season approaches in the United States, health experts are sounding the alarm over a rare but serious complication that can strike even healthy children. Known as acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), the condition causes dangerous brain swelling and can be fatal in nearly one in four cases. While flu infections are common and usually resolve without hospital care, doctors are urging parents to stay vigilant after reports showed dozens of children across the US developed this life-threatening illness during recent flu seasons.

    What is rare flu ‘acute necrotizing encephalopathy’

    Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is an extremely rare complication that arises when the immune system overreacts to a viral infection, most often the flu. This immune response disrupts the blood-brain barrier, leading to severe inflammation, brain tissue damage, and swelling. “It’s one of those extremely rare but extremely serious complications that happens predominantly in children,” explained Dr. Nicholas Dragolea to Daily Mail. “When it strikes, it tends to progress rapidly, and outcomes can be devastating if not caught in time.”

    Warning signs parents should look out for

    Doctors stress that parents should not ignore sudden changes in a child’s flu symptoms. Early red flags include fainting spells, seizures, breathing difficulties, and sudden trouble with movement. “Most children will recover from flu with rest and fluids,” Dr. Dragolea said, “but if you notice neurological symptoms, don’t wait — seek emergency medical care immediately.”

    Who is most at risk?

    A recent review published in JAMA identified 41 cases of ANE in children across the last two flu seasons. Alarmingly, three-quarters of these children were considered completely healthy before infection, and most were around five years old. “What makes ANE especially concerning is that it’s not just children with underlying conditions,” noted Dr. Dragolea. “Even healthy kids can develop it, which is why awareness is crucial for both doctors and parents.”

    How rare is the condition?

    Though highly concerning, experts emphasize that ANE remains rare. Among millions of flu infections each year in the US, only a small fraction progress to this stage. In the JAMA study, 11 of the 41 children affected — or 27 percent — died, while the rest required prolonged hospital stays of up to three weeks. The CDC has also confirmed cases in past flu seasons, reporting that among 68 children who died of the flu last year, nine had encephalopathy and four had the acute form.

    Vaccination remains a key defense

    The JAMA review found that just 16 percent of children affected by ANE had received the flu vaccine, despite CDC recommendations that all children six months and older be vaccinated annually. “Vaccination doesn’t completely eliminate the risk, but it dramatically reduces the likelihood of severe flu complications,” said Dr. Fatimah Dawood, a medical officer at the CDC’s influenza division. Experts warn that low vaccination coverage could leave more children vulnerable to dangerous outcomes this season.

    Could the pandemic be a factor?

    Doctors also suggest that pandemic lockdowns, which reduced children’s exposure to everyday microbes, may have played a role in rising cases of rare complications. “We know the immune system develops with exposure,” said Dr. Dragolea. “The disruption caused by COVID-19 might have had unintended effects on how some children respond to flu infections.”

    The bottom line for parents

    Flu is common and usually mild, but doctors emphasize that rare complications like ANE should not be overlooked. Parents are urged to vaccinate their children, monitor symptoms closely, and act quickly if unusual neurological signs emerge. “These cases remind us that while flu is familiar, it can sometimes be unpredictable and devastating,” Dr. Dragolea warned. “Preparedness and awareness are the best tools we have to save lives.”


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  • Dollar firms as traders pare rate cut bets ahead of Powell speech – Reuters

    1. Dollar firms as traders pare rate cut bets ahead of Powell speech  Reuters
    2. Dollar gains before key Powell speech  Business Recorder
    3. U.S. Dollar Rallies As Composite PMI Beats Estimates: Analysis For EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CAD, USD/JPY  FXEmpire
    4. USD mixed to lower as focus remains on Fed – Scotiabank  FXStreet
    5. US Dollar Index holds steady above 98.50, Jackson Hole Symposium in focus  Mitrade

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  • Is Pakistan Cricket Team Paying the Price for Its T20 Obsession?

    Is Pakistan Cricket Team Paying the Price for Its T20 Obsession?

    Pakistan’s cricket team seems to be in the midst of one of its worst runs in the international arena, with success both on and off the field getting harder to come by.

    Once touted as the measuring stick for other teams, Pakistan could soon find itself in a lower Test tier while also battling for direct qualification for the next ODI World Cup, a bitter pill to swallow for a side claiming to be the best of the rest, Big Three excluded.

    Innumerable explanations have been offered by pundits for Pakistan’s current state, but does the real answer lie in their overreliance on T20 cricket?

    From the launch of the Pakistan Super League to high‑profile bilateral T20I series, the shortest format has dominated the team’s calendar. But has this focus on T20Is come at the expense of Pakistan’s ODI and Test fortunes?

    The statistics over the last decade (2015–2025) paint a sobering picture for the Pakistan cricket team.

    Pakistan’s Focus on T20s

    No country, apart from India, has leaned on T20 internationals as heavily as Pakistan. In the last ten years, Pakistan played 182 T20Is, compared to 162 ODIs and just 78 Tests. By contrast, England played 137 Tests in the same period—almost double Pakistan’s tally—with Australia and India also breaching the 100‑Test mark.

    In ODIs, too, India (198) and Sri Lanka (197) played over 30 more matches than Pakistan, with only Bangladesh and the less established sides below them.

    This scheduling imbalance makes it clear where the PCB’s priorities have been.

    Rise and Fall in T20 cricket

    Pakistan’s early dominance in T20Is gave this strategy some justification. Their win percentage hit 80% in 2017 and an astonishing 89.47% in 2018, establishing them as one of the world’s top sides.

    Even in 2020 (63.64%) and 2021 (69%), Pakistan cricket team remained highly competitive. But in the last three years, that dominance has eroded:

    Pakistan in T20Is (2015–2025)
    Year Matches Played Wins Losses Win % (Results Only)
    2015 10 6 4 60.0%
    2016 15 8 7 53.3%
    2017 10 8 2 80.0%
    2018 19 17 2 89.5%
    2019 10 1 9 10.0%
    2020 11 7 4 63.6%
    2021 29 20 9 69.0%
    2022 26 14 12 53.8%
    2023 11 4 7 36.4%
    2024 27 7 17 29.17
    2025* 14 7 7 50.0%

    Despite playing more T20Is than almost anyone else, Pakistan have lost the consistency that once made them world‑beaters in the format. The upcoming Asia Cup will be another test for this wavering side and could dent confidence further.

    ODI Decline

    The ODI team seems to have borne the brunt of Pakistan’s reliance on T20Is. Whether due to a lack of identity, a dearth of talent, or rivals simply improving faster, Pakistan appears to be on a downward trajectory in the 50‑over game.

    After a strong stretch between 2017 and 2022 (win% always above 64%), the side has collapsed, with 2025—statistically—the worst year on record.

    This is a remarkable fall for a nation that lifted the 1992 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy. Playing fewer ODIs than key rivals has only deepened the struggle, leaving Pakistan short of experience and cohesion in the format.

    Pakistan in ODIs (2015–2025)
    Year Matches Played Wins Losses Win % (Results Only)
    2015 27 12 13 44.44%
    2016 11 5 6 45.45%
    2017 18 12 6 66.67%
    2018 18 8 9 47.06%
    2019 25 9 15 37.5%
    2020 3 2 1 66.7%
    2021 6 2 4 33.3%
    2022 9 8 1 88.89%
    2023 25 14 11 58.33%
    2024 9 7 2 77.78%
    2025* 11 2 9 18.2%

    Tests: Forgotten Priority

    Pakistan cricket team’s red‑ball game has been squeezed the hardest by the PCB’s affinity for T20s. With only 78 Tests since 2015, they have played significantly fewer than other major nations. England (137), Australia (105), and even Sri Lanka (93) have invested far more in Test cricket—and it shows in recent World Test Championship tables, where Pakistan have finished among the poorest‑performing sides twice in a row.

    Results reflect the neglect. After starting strong in 2015 (62.5% wins), Pakistan slipped into inconsistency, including a miserable 2022. A brief rebound in 2023 (66.67%) has since been undone, with the team back to 33.33% in 2024 and 2025, despite playing most matches at home.

    Pakistan in Tests (2015–2025)
    Year Matches Played Wins Losses Draws Win % (Results Only)
    2015 8 5 3 0 62.5%
    2016 11 4 7 0 36.4%
    2017 6 2 4 0 33.3%
    2018 9 4 4 1 50.0%
    2019 6 1 4 1 20.0%
    2020 5 1 2 2 33.3%
    2021 9 7 2 0 77.78%
    2022 9 1 5 3 20%
    2023 5 2 2 1 50.%
    2024 7 2 5 0 28.57%
    2025* 3 1 2 0 33.3%

    The bigger question

    Pakistan’s obsession with T20 cricket has brought glamour and commercial success—largely through the PSL and the appeal of short‑format stars. But the imbalance has left the national side vulnerable.

    The evidence suggests that an excess of T20Is relative to ODIs and Tests has coincided with declining win percentages across formats in recent years. The structural neglect of 50‑over and red‑ball cricket is also affecting team management, whose decisions increasingly signal desperation rather than prudence.

    If Pakistan team is to recover their standing in world cricket, they must rebalance priorities. T20s may keep fans entertained, but success in ODIs and Tests cements legacy. Whether the Pakistan cricket team and its management will address these issues remains to be seen; for now, there seems to be no stopping Pakistan’s penchant for T20 cricket.


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  • Rolls-Royce SMR advances to final stage in Swedish nuclear competition

    Rolls-Royce SMR advances to final stage in Swedish nuclear competition

    Sweden is projected to require an additional 100–250 TWh of electricity over the next 25 years, and nuclear energy is set to play an important role in achieving that target. Vattenfall’s focus for the first units is at the Ringhals site on the Värö Peninsula, already home to a nuclear power station operated by Vattenfall.

    Each Rolls-Royce SMR ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant will generate 470MWe of clean low-carbon electricity, enough to power a million homes for more than 60 years.

     

    Dan Gould, Rolls-Royce SMR
    M +44 (0) 7717 720809
    [email protected]
    https://www.rolls-royce-smr.com/


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