Author: A Sports

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has secured a stint in county cricket after signing with Yorkshire County Cricket Club as an overseas player for the upcoming Vitality Blast.

The 31-year-old will replace Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who has been ruled out after suffering a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

Naveen had already missed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year and will not recover in time to take up his contract at Headingley.

Yorkshire have moved swiftly to bring in Hasan, who arrives with a significant T20 pedigree. The right-arm quick has represented Pakistan in 57 T20 Internationals and has built a strong reputation across franchise leagues worldwide.

His previous county stint with Warwickshire further strengthens his credentials, having picked up 44 wickets at an impressive average of 14.93 across three Vitality Blast campaigns between 2023 and 2025.

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Hasan Ali is also carrying strong momentum into the competition, currently enjoying an excellent run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, where he has claimed nine wickets in four matches for Karachi Kings at an average of just over 13.

The experienced pacer is expected to be available for Yorkshire throughout the Blast group stage and will also feature in two County Championship fixtures against Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket, Gavin Hamilton, welcomed the signing, acknowledging the disappointment of losing Naveen but expressing confidence in Hasan’s ability to fill the void.

“Whilst we’re naturally disappointed to not see Naveen join us this year, in Hasan we have an exceptional replacement,” he said.

“He arrives with a wealth of experience and a skillset that we believe will be invaluable to the group. We’re delighted to have secured someone of Hasan’s quality at such short notice, and everyone at the club is looking forward to welcoming him to Headingley next month.”

READ: Blessing Muzarabani penalised by PCB for violating PSL contract

India’s rising teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, is on the verge of scripting history, with reports suggesting the 15-year-old could soon become the youngest player to represent the country at the international level.

The prodigious batter has been making waves with his fearless strokeplay, and his performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, for Rajasthan Royals, have only strengthened his case for national selection.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the youngster has been shortlisted for India’s upcoming two-match T20I series against Ireland in June, with selectors closely monitoring his progress.

He is also believed to be in contention for the subsequent three-match series against Zimbabwe in July.

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If handed a debut, Sooryavanshi would surpass the long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who was 16 years and 205 days old at the time of his international debut.

He would also go past Shafali Verma, who made her T20I debut at 15 years and 239 days in women’s cricket.

Notably, in the IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi has amassed 200 runs in five matches at an average of 40 and an astonishing strike rate of over 260, making him one of the standout performers of the season.

Overall, he has featured in 23 T20 matches, scoring 901 runs at an average of 40.95 and a blistering strike rate exceeding 215, including three centuries.

READ: Mitchell Starc, Deepti Sharma named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketers in the World

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam expressed confidence in maintaining the team’s winning momentum in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. 

Zalmi’s 24-run victory over Multan Sultans marked their fifth win in the tournament, strengthening their top position on the points table.

The stars of the match were Kusal Mendis and Sufiyan Muqeem, with the former top-scoring with 68 while the latter returned with a three-wicket haul.

Speaking to the media after the match, Babar praised the players for their impressive performances.

“I am thoroughly enjoying playing this season. Our players are working hard in every department,” he told reporters.

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“The plan is for the top three batters to provide a strong start, after which the other players should take the score forward,” Babar revealed.

The skipper termed every match important, noting that they have learned from past mistakes.

“Our effort is to perform well in every match. We have learned a lot from our mistakes,” Babar maintained.

He talked about conditions and highlighted the different nature of the game, which could vary depending on the opposition.

“The aim is to maintain the strong performances from the last five matches. It is my opinion that conditions are not the same every day, and it is not easy to understand conditions on a daily basis.”

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Regarding strike rate, Babar said maintaining a strike rate can be challenging sometimes, while emphasizing the role of partnerships.

“We have to play according to the team’s requirements. I know if I am coming in the power play, I have to utilize the fielding restrictions. ”

“Sometimes it is not easy to maintain the strike rate. Partnerships are for this purpose because if one batter is struggling, then the other could assist him,” he concluded.

READ: PSL 11: Naqvi to request PM Shehbaz for fan attendance in stadiums

KARACHI: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said he would request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the decision regarding fan attendance for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Speaking to the media after the Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans clash, Naqvi addressed the question regarding the fans’ entry in stadiums.

The appeal was made while Season 11 of the prestigious tournament was taking place behind closed doors in Karachi and Lahore, in line with the government’s official resource conservation initiatives.

Before the start of the PSL season 11, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi announced that PSL matches would be held without spectators as part of the government’s austerity measures amid the ongoing regional crisis.

“I would request the Prime Minister to permit fans to come to the stadium,” he said.

“We are making decisions keeping the current situation in mind,” he added, saying that the decisions are taken in accordance with the prevailing situation.

Chairman PCB also dismissed comparisons with India, where fans are allowed to watch IPL 2026 matches, asserting that the conditions in Pakistan are different.

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“We do not have a situation like India in our country,” he remarked.

Mohsin Naqvi also confirmed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will proceed as planned.

“The PSL will continue as per the scheduled plan,” he said.

Chairman PCB further pointed out the need for improvements in the National Bank Stadium facilities and revealed that plans are under consideration to completely demolish the venue.

“The second phase of the upgradation will begin after the PSL ends. We need to bring changes to the stadium infrastructure. Our plan is to rebuild the stadium after demolition, but it depends how much change will it bring [to the overall structure],” he concluded.

READ: Mohammad Haris achieves THIS milestone during Multan Sultans clash

KARACHI: Kusal Mendis half-century and Sufiyan Muqeem’s three-wicket haul helped Peshawar Zalmi ease past Multan Sultans in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Monday.

Chasing 197, Multan Sultans batting lineup crumbled under pressure and could only muster 172-8 at the end of 2o overs.

Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith were quick off the blocks in the chase, adding 30 in 2.4 overs.  However, Iftikhar Ahmed removed him for 17 to lift Peshawar Zalmi.

Following the wicket, Josh Philippe joined hands with Smith. The pair made the chase look easy, particulary the former who hit 32 from 17, hitting seven fours.

As a result, Multan Sultans were well poised at 85 in 9.3 overs before a double-wicket over from Sufiyan Muqeem changed the momentum. Smith made 31 from 29, including three fours.

It was Muqeem again who provided his side’s breakthrough in the 13th over. Ashton Turner was bowled for 20, leaving the Sultans four down for 123 runs in 13.3 overs.

Meanwhile, Shan Masood tried to put chase back on track with a quick-fire 35 on 19 deliveries, but his dismissal dashed the Sultans’ hopes of winning the game.

For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem scalped three, whereas Iftikhar Ahmed took two wickets.

The victory kept Peshawar Zalmi at the top spot with 11 points out of six games.

Earlier, Mohammad Haris’ gritty innings, ably backed by Kusal Mendis half-century, propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a big total

Put into bat first, Peshawar Zalmi racked up 196-6 in their 20 overs.

Mohammad Haris gave a flying start, scoring the bulk of runs in the opening overs, bringing the score to 48 in 4.3 overs. The right-hander took Mohammad Nawaz to the cleaners, accumulating nine and 21 runs in his first and third over, respectively.

Haris (38 off 17) departed to Peter Siddle after hitting three sixes and four boundaries.

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His wicket, however, did not stem the flow of runs as Babar Azam and Farhan Yousuf stitched a brief partnership of 24. The duo brought the score to 72 in 7.5 overs before Nawaz dismissed Babar cheaply.

The skipper made 18 off 20 with the aid of a single boundary.

With Peshawar Zalmi two down, in came youngster Farhan Yousaf, who put on a 63-run stand off 39 balls with Kusal Mendis to put his side into a strong position. The pair brought the team’s total to 135 in 14.2 overs.

Yousaf made 30 from 22 balls with the help of three sixes, while Mendis continued on his merry way and reached his third consecutive half-century.

Peshawar Zalmi eventually ended their innings with a big total on the board. Kusal Mendis top-scored with 68 from 40 balls, including three maximums and six fours.

For Multan Sultans, Muhammad Ismail and Peter Siddle took two wickets each.

READ: Mohammad Haris achieves THIS milestone during Multan Sultans clash

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris on Monday completed 1000 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The right-hander reached the landmark during his side’s clash against Multan Sultans here at the National Bank Stadium.

Haris required 19 runs before the clash, and he did it in style by tonking Mohammad Nawaz for a six on the fifth ball of the third over.

Following this, he became the 31st player in the tournament’s history to reach the 1000-run mark, a list that also includes Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The batter was instrumental in Peshawar Zalmi’s strong start. He made 38 off 17 balls, striking three sixes and four boundaries.

Mohammad Haris was eventually dismissed by veteran pacer Peter Siddle with a short ball in the fourth over.

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Haris’s PSL runs tally rose to 1021 in 42 innings at an average of 24.30 and a strike rate of 164.59, including four half-centuries.

Playing XIs

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousaf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Aamer Jamal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana.

Multan Sultans: Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Ashton Turner (c), Shan Masood, Josh Philippe (wk), Muhammad Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Peter Siddle, Muhammad Waseem Jnr, Muhammad Ismail, and Faisal Akram.

READ: Desert Vipers pick Shadab Khan for Global Super League 2026

KARACHI: Multan Sultans have won the toss and have decided to bowl first against Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Monday.

Head to Head

Both teams have faced each other 16 times. Multan Sultans lead with 11 wins, while Zalmi have managed five wins.

Matches: 16 Multan Sultans: 11 Peshawar Zalmi: 5

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Playing XIs

Peshawar Zalmi XI: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousaf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Aamer Jamal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

Multan Sultans XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Ashton Turner (capt), Shan Masood, Josh Philippe (wk), Muhammad Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Peter Siddle, Muhammad Waseem Jnr, Muhammad Ismail, Faisal Akram

READ: Desert Vipers pick Shadab Khan for Global Super League 2026

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been roped in by Desert Vipers for the fifth edition of the Global Super League 2026.

The tournament is set to be played in Providence Stadium in Guyana from July 23 to August 1.

Besides Shadab, the other prominent players in the squad are New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, USA Andries Gous, and West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers.

The 14-member side will be captained by Chris Green, with Khuzaim Bin Tanveer bolstering the pace attack.

The upcoming edition will be Shadab’s first appearance in the tournament, having played numerous leagues around the globe.

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The 27-year-old has played 349 T20S, picking up 379 wickets, including a five-wicket haul. Besides bowling, he also has 3815 runs to his name at an average of 19.36 with the aid of 13 half-centuries.

Notably, Shadab is one of the most successful captains in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He has lifted Islamabad United to title glory in 2024 and has won 40 out of 69 games for the franchise.

The Mianwali-born cricketer has also proved his credentials as an all-rounder in PSL , amassing 1,486 runs in 98 matches at a strike rate of 142.20 alongside 112 wickets — third on the list of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament.

Desert Vipers squad for GSL 2026

Andries Gous, Vritty Aravind, Zachary Carter, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Mayers, Daryl Mitchell, Shadab Khan, Sanjay Pahal, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Chris Green (c), Jason Behrendorff, Khary Pierre, Ramon Simmonds, and Mattiullah Khan.

READ: Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal stresses importance of strong team culture

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a record-breaking prize money pool for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the tournament set to feature expanded participation and increased financial rewards for teams.

The total prize fund for the 2026 edition has been set at US$8,764,615, marking a 10 per cent increase from the 2024 tournament and highlighting the continued commercial growth of women’s cricket globally.

The competition will also expand to 12 teams for the first time in its history.

Under the revised structure, the champions will receive US$2,340,000, while the runners-up will earn US$1,170,000.

Both losing semi-finalists will take home US$675,000 each, and every group-stage win will be rewarded with US$31,154. All participating teams are guaranteed a minimum of US$247,500.

ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta welcomed the announcement, calling it a significant milestone in the continued rise of the women’s game.

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“The growth of women’s cricket continues to accelerate, and the expansion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to 12 teams, combined with a record prize pool, underlines our commitment to building a stronger, more competitive global game,” the CEO said.

“The continued rise of women’s cricket through increased investment and opportunity reflects the growing influence and impact of female athletes on the global stage.”

He further said the expanded format and increased financial incentives reflect the ICC’s long-term commitment to building a more competitive and globally inclusive cricket ecosystem, while also recognising the growing impact of female athletes on the world stage.

Alongside the prize money announcement, the ICC also launched the official trophy tour, which began in London.

The trophy will be showcased at the centre of the square at Lord’s Cricket Ground, where a visual projection of its silhouette will be displayed on the iconic pavilion.

The tour will then travel across qualified European nations, including the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland, before moving through host cities across England in the lead-up to the tournament’s opening on June 12.

READ: Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal stresses importance of strong team culture

Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal has emphasised the importance of team unity, leadership, and strategic squad building as key pillars behind the franchise’s approach in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Speaking to HBL PSL Digital, Salman Iqbal highlighted that strong relationships within the squad remain the foundation of any successful T20 side.

“The most important thing for any franchise team is strong bonding among the players,” he stated.

He praised Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa for seamlessly integrating into the squad, reflecting the team’s positive environment.

“Zampa has gelled into the team so well that it feels like he has been part of Karachi Kings for a long time. That kind of bonding is very important in a team,” he said.

Salman Iqbal also reaffirmed his confidence in captain David Warner, revealing that the decision to appoint him as leader was clear from the outset.

“We have retained David Warner as captain this season as well. When we picked him in last year’s draft, I had already decided that he would lead the side.”

Discussing squad composition, Iqbal pointed out the franchise’s deliberate focus on strengthening the middle order, an area often considered a challenge in T20 cricket.

“If you look at Pakistan cricket as well, the middle order has been an issue in T20Is. When we signed Moeen Ali before the auction, people criticised the decision, but now you can see he is one of the best middle-order batters,” he explained.

He further highlighted the addition of wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan as another key move to bolster the lineup.

“We picked Azam Khan to further strengthen our middle order. He is the kind of player who, once he gets going, is very difficult to stop, and we have already seen that in this PSL,” he added.

Reflecting on past success, Iqbal recalled Karachi Kings’ title-winning campaign in 2020.

“People often say that empty stadiums favour Karachi Kings because we won our last title in 2020, when matches were played without crowds due to COVID,” he further stated.

He also acknowledged the longstanding rivalry with Lahore Qalandars, calling them the team’s biggest competitors.

“There has always been a rivalry, and Lahore Qalandars remain our main rivals. Matches against them bring a different kind of pressure,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of active ownership during the tournament, stating that involvement from management boosts player morale.

“When team owners stay involved during the PSL and spend time with the squad, it lifts the confidence of both local and international players,” he shared.

READ: Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam receive PSL NOC extension