Author: A Sports

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have suffered a major setback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, with Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out due to injury.

The development was confirmed by LSG’s director of cricket, Tom Moody, who revealed that the franchise is already in the process of finalising a replacement, expected to be announced within the next 24 to 48 hours.

“We are preparing for the fact that he isn’t going to be able to join us,” Moody said while speaking during LSG’s clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata. “We are looking at replacements, and that should be announced soon.”

Hasaranga has been out of action since suffering a left hamstring tear during Sri Lanka’s opening game of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

His situation was further complicated after reports suggested he had not completed the mandatory fitness assessments required by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for IPL participation.

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LSG had secured Hasaranga’s services for INR 2 crore, but the leg-spinner has been unable to link up with the squad due to his ongoing rehabilitation.

He previously featured for the Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in his IPL career.

South African spinner George Linde is currently understood to be the leading candidate to replace Wanindu Hasaranga.

Despite yet to make his IPL debut, Linde brings extensive T20 experience, having played across multiple franchise leagues, including SA20, The Hundred, Major League Cricket, and the Pakistan Super League.

The left-arm spinner has picked up 218 wickets in 250 T20 matches at an economy rate of 7.42, though his recent international form has been modest, managing just one wicket in four outings against New Zealand.

READ: Babar Azam breaks Chris Gayle’s record during Karachi Kings clash

KARACHI: Babar Azam etched his name deeper into the record books on Thursday, becoming the fastest batter in men’s T20 history to reach 12,000 runs, surpassing the long-standing mark held by Chris Gayle.

The milestone came during Peshawar Zalmi’s high-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash against Karachi Kings at the National Stadium.

Babar, who needed just 13 runs before the match, brought up the landmark in style by launching Khushdil Shah for a six over mid-on in the fourth over.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

In doing so, the Zalmi skipper became the 12th player in men’s T20 cricket to cross the 12,000-run mark, joining an elite list featuring the likes of Kieron Pollard, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, David Warner and Shoaib Malik.

Babar reached the milestone in just 338 innings, bettering Gayle’s previous record of 343 innings, while Kohli sits third on the list, having taken 360 innings to get there.

Fastest to 12,000 Runs in Men’s T20s

• Babar Azam – 338 innings
• Chris Gayle – 343 innings
• Virat Kohli – 360 innings
• David Warner – 368 innings
• Jos Buttler – 405 innings

Despite losing the record, Gayle continues to lead the all-time T20 run charts with 14,562 runs, followed closely by Pollard.

Babar Azam capped off his milestone performance with a dominant unbeaten 87, powering Zalmi to a formidable total of 246 for 3.

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The bowlers then completed a comprehensive performance, skittling Karachi Kings for just 87 to seal a massive 159-run victory.

The emphatic win lifted Zalmi to second place on the PSL 11 points table, with three wins from their first four matches, further underlining their strong start to the campaign.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan released from Multan Sultans squad

KARACHI: Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis’ sublime batting backed by a disciplined bowling effort powered Peshawar Zalmi to a resounding 159-run victory over Karachi Kings in the 17th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Set a massive 247 to chase, Karachi Kings’ batting lineup faltered and were bowled out for 87 in 16.1 overs.

Kings were in early trouble right from the start as they lost both of their openers, Mohammad Waseem and David Warner, for ducks.

They were further pegged back when Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw for five by Iftikhar Ahmed. As a result, they were reduced to 8-3 in 2.1 overs.

Following the early trouble, Saad Baig (14) and Azam Khan (25) tried to stabilize the innings with a brief 27-run partnership. However, a caught and bowled from Nahid Rana sent the former back to the pavilion.

The wickets continued to tumble as Kings never recovered in their big chase.

Eventually, Peshawar Zalmi bowled them out for a modest total and handed Kings their first defeat of the season.

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For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Nahid Rana, and Iftikhar Ahmed shared nine wickets between them.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi posted a mammoth 246 runs total in a commanding batting display after being invited to bat first.

The cornerstone of the big total was the record 191-run stand between Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis. The duo put on a batting masterclass after the early loss of Mohammad Haris, who was removed for a duck on the second ball of the opening over.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Babar scored 87 from 51 balls with the aid of two sixes and 10 fours, while Mendis scored his maiden PSL century, an innings of 109 off 52 deliveries, laced with 14 fours and four sixes.

Peshawar Zalmi were 197-4 in 17 overs when Abdul Samad provided a late surge. He smashed 40 off just 12 balls with the help of four sixes and three boundaries, propelling the total beyond the 240-run mark.

For Karachi Kings, Abbas Afridi picked up two wickets while giving away 55 in his quota of four overs.

READ: Devon Conway leads Islamabad United to victory over Lahore Qalandars

KARACHI: Devon Conway produced a composed unbeaten half-century to guide Islamabad United to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in a low-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest 101-run target, United made light work of the total, reaching it inside 11 overs with 58 balls to spare.

The only hiccup in the chase came early when Sameer Minhas was dismissed for five by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the third over.

From there on, Conway took complete control of the innings. The left-hander stitched together an unbeaten 93-run partnership with Mohammad Faiq, ensuring there were no further setbacks.

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Devon Conway remained unbeaten on 59 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes, while Faiq played an equally fluent hand with a 19-ball 34, laced with six boundaries.

Earlier, Islamabad United’s bowlers laid the foundation for the comfortable win by bundling Qalandars out for just 100 in 18.3 overs.

The innings unravelled right from the start when Imad Wasim dismissed Mohammad Naeem for a first-ball duck.

Although Haseebullah Khan (19) and Abdullah Shafique (10) attempted to stabilise things with a brief stand, regular breakthroughs kept Lahore on the back foot.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Imad struck again to remove Shafique, before Chris Green and captain Shadab Khan further dented the innings with timely wickets.

A short resistance from Sikandar Raza (25) and Asif Ali (15) failed to shift momentum, as the Qalandars kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Green was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 3 for 19 in his four overs, while Imad, Shadab and Richard Gleeson chipped in with two wickets apiece to wrap up the innings.

READ: Tamim Iqbal-led BCB announces major pay hike for domestic cricketers

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), under its newly formed ad-hoc committee headed by Tamim Iqbal, has approved a significant increase in domestic match fees and monthly salaries, with a particular focus on improving earnings in women’s cricket.

The decision marks the first major policy move by the Tamim-led committee since it became operational earlier this week, signalling an early intent to reform player compensation structures across the board.

The revised package comes after the committee discovered that women cricketers in domestic one-day competitions had been earning as little as BDT 1,000 per match in previous years, a figure that was later marginally increased but still widely regarded as insufficient.

Under the new structure, women players will now earn BDT 10,000 per T20 match, BDT 15,000 for 50-over games, and BDT 20,000 for first-class fixtures.

In addition, the monthly salary for the top 36 women cricketers has been raised from BDT 30,000 to BDT 40,000.

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While acknowledging that the revised payments are still not ideal, Tamim Iqbal reportedly stressed that the move represents a necessary and meaningful step forward within existing financial constraints.

The committee has also implemented a parallel revision for men’s domestic cricket. Players in Category A will now receive BDT 65,000 per month, while Category B and C players will earn BDT 50,000 and BDT 40,000 respectively. First-class match fees for men have also been increased from BDT 70,000 to BDT 100,000.

The changes will officially come into effect from January 1, 2026.

Tamim highlighted that domestic players had long gone without meaningful pay increases and emphasised that those who sustain the structure of the game deserve fairer financial recognition.

The reforms come amid wider administrative restructuring within the board, as the BCB also begins defining roles for members of its 11-person ad-hoc committee.

Meanwhile, the board is also working to resolve ongoing disputes between club sides and the governing body, with plans underway to stage the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League in the coming weeks as part of efforts to stabilise domestic cricket operations.

READ: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rages over VAR handball non-intervention

KARACHI: Multan Sultans have granted opening batter Sahibzada Farhan a short break from the squad ahead of their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash against Peshawar Zalmi, scheduled to be played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on April 13.

According to the franchise, the decision has been taken as part of their internal workload and rest policy, which allows players to take time off during breaks in the tournament to recover physically and mentally.

A spokesperson for the Sultans said the move aligns with the team’s broader approach under owner Gohar Shah and head coach Tim Paine, who have emphasised player welfare and balanced workload management throughout the season.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“As per the policy, players are given complete freedom to relax and spend personal time during rest periods,” the spokesperson stated.

The management believes the system helps players remain mentally fresh and better prepared for high-intensity matches.

Along with Sahibzada Farhan, batting coach Sohaib Maqsood has also been released from the squad for a short period under the same policy.

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Notably, Farhan has been one of the standout performers in PSL 11 so far, emerging as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.

The right-hander has accumulated 232 runs in five matches at an impressive average of 58.00 and a strike rate of 181.25, including a century and a half-century.

The opener’s form has been a key factor in Multan’s strong campaign so far, with the side currently sitting at the top of the table. Led by Ashton Turner, the Sultans have won four of their five matches, collecting eight points with a healthy net run-rate of 0.941.

READ: Rashid Khan may miss India Test as red-ball future remains unclear

Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan has admitted that playing Test cricket on a regular basis may no longer be realistic for him, as he continues to manage ongoing back issues that have significantly shaped his workload across formats.

The 27-year-old, one of the most influential white-ball bowlers in world cricket, said medical advice has played a key role in his decision to step back from red-ball cricket, with a long-term focus now on preserving his career in limited-overs formats.

Speaking after a match-winning spell for the Gujarat Titans against the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 in Delhi, Rashid opened up about the physical challenges that have forced him to rethink his involvement in Test cricket.

“Red-ball cricket is a little difficult because that was the first thing my doctor told me to stay away from red-ball cricket,” Rashid said. “I still went ahead and played.”

He revealed that following his back surgery in 2023, he was specifically advised to avoid the longest format due to the strain it places on his body.

“The doctor told me that if you don’t want to play cricket, you can keep playing red-ball cricket. He said it’s not going to help me and that I won’t be able to play for long,” he added.

Rashid Khan, who captains Afghanistan in T20Is, underwent surgery in the United Kingdom after playing through the ODI World Cup in 2023 while carrying an injury.

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Although he made a return to competitive cricket in 2024, the demands of continuous franchise and international cricket soon took a toll again, forcing him to reassess his schedule.

The spinner also reflected on the workload he has carried in the longest format, revealing how physically demanding his limited Test experience has been.

“In my last two Test matches, I bowled 126 overs, which is simply too much,” he said. “If I bowl a spell of 20–25 overs, I have to bowl the whole day. You can’t do that to yourself.”

Rashid has now indicated that he may restrict himself to just one Test per year, while prioritising ODI cricket and major tournaments such as the 2027 World Cup, where Afghanistan will be looking to build on their recent progress in the format.

“So yes, I will think about it. But ODI cricket, I really enjoy that format. I am in good shape to play ODIs for a longer period for Afghanistan,” he said. “Red-ball cricket is something that looks a bit difficult for me.”

Since Afghanistan gained Test status in 2017, opportunities in the format have been limited, and Rashid Khan himself has played only six Tests, though he has still managed to take 45 wickets at an impressive average of 20.44.

He briefly returned to red-ball cricket in early 2025 against Zimbabwe, where he produced a standout performance with 11 wickets in the match, but recurring back problems soon resurfaced later in the season, again affecting his rhythm.

READ: Daryl Mitchell backs Rawalpindiz to bounce back despite winless PSL start

KARACHI: New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell remains optimistic about Rawalpindiz’s chances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, despite the franchise’s winless start to the season.

The 34-year-old, who is featuring for Rawalpindiz, said he is hopeful the team can turn things around in the coming matches and build momentum as the tournament progresses.

“It’s awesome to be back here,” Mitchell said while speaking to PCB Digital. “I’m really happy to be back in Pakistan. The people here are very welcoming, and I’ve really enjoyed my time so far.”

Rawalpindiz have endured a difficult start, losing all four of their matches to sit at the bottom of the points table. However, Mitchell is backing his side to bounce back and keep their playoff hopes alive.

“Hopefully we can get off the mark in the next game and get on a bit of a roll,” he said. “You never know what might happen in a tournament like this.”

Mitchell also believes that adapting to conditions and building a better understanding within the group will be key moving forward.

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“It’s always challenging cricket coming here,” he noted. “Conditions can vary, from fast and bouncy to slow and turning, so as a cricketer, trying to adapt is always a challenge, but it’s also good fun.”

Daryl Mitchell, who made his PSL debut last season with eventual champions Lahore Qalandars, has so far scored 124 runs in four matches this season at a strike rate of over 150.  Last year, he accumulated 241 runs in nine games, playing a key role in Qalandars’ title-winning campaign.

Sharing his thoughts on Pakistan’s cricketing landscape, the right-hander was full of praise for the country’s fast-bowling depth, calling it one of the most impressive aspects of the PSL.

“Pakistan has some of the best fast bowlers in the world,” he said. “Every season, a new bowler seems to come through. I don’t know what it is, tape ball or whatever, but it’s incredible to see.”

Mitchell added that overseas players have an important role in guiding younger cricketers, particularly in a competitive league like the PSL.

“As overseas players, we try to share our experience with the younger guys to help them improve and take their game to another level,” he said.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The New Zealand international also spoke about settling into a new environment, highlighting the importance of building team chemistry early in the tournament.

“The first week is about getting to know the players and understanding how they operate,” he explained.

“You try to have some fun along the way, and as the tournament goes on, you start having more conversations about the game and how to improve together.”

Reflecting on his favourite PSL memory, Mitchell pointed to Lahore Qalandars lifting the trophy last season as a special moment, even though he missed the final stages of the tournament.

“Anytime you’re winning games is special,” he said. “Watching Lahore lift the trophy last year was a great moment, especially seeing some close friends succeed.”

READ: Babar Azam brushes off Virat Kohli comparisons after Hyderabad Kingsmen victory

KARACHI: Babar Azam chose to steer clear of comparisons with Virat Kohli, responding firmly to a question on the subject after his team, Peshawar Zalmi, registered a tense last-ball victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.

Chasing a modest yet tricky 146-run target, Zalmi were pushed to the limit on a challenging surface before eventually getting over the line on the final delivery with four wickets in hand.

Babar played a key role in the chase with a composed 43 off 37 balls but fell at a crucial juncture, leaving his side needing 30 runs from the final five overs.

The post-match press conference, however, shifted focus from the result to an all-too-familiar debate of Babar’s ability to finish games and his frequent comparisons with Kohli.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The Zalmi skipper appeared unimpressed with the line of questioning and quickly dismissed the comparison.

“Leave that topic. You can end it there,” Babar said, cutting short the question before elaborating on his approach instead.

He emphasised that match situations, rather than comparisons, dictate his style of play, highlighting the importance of reading conditions and building partnerships.

“The main thing is the scenario, what the team requires, what the run rate is, how to play, and how the pitch is behaving. You have to plan your game accordingly and build partnerships for the team,” he explained.

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Babar Azam also pointed out that execution is not always straightforward, especially on difficult surfaces where even well-timed shots may not yield results.

“Sometimes you think it is an easy pitch, but you cannot execute, shots are hit, but not finding the gaps. You try but do not get the runs,” he said.

Reflecting on criticism around his finishing ability, the right-hander insisted that improvement is a gradual process and backed his record in pressure situations.

“In those moments, I remind myself of my strengths and my game plan, my best way of playing. Improvement comes with time; sometimes it takes months. I have finished a lot of matches; you may think I have not, but I have finished many,” he added.

READ: Hassan Khan breaks silence on decision to leave Pakistan for USA

The injury-hit Rawalpindiz have moved swiftly to reinforce their pace attack, announcing the signing of New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The development comes in the wake of injuries to frontline pacers Naseem Shah and Zaman Khan, forcing the franchise to seek immediate reinforcements.

Sources revealed that Sears, currently touring Sri Lanka with New Zealand A, is expected to link up with the squad soon, pending necessary clearances.

The right-arm pacer is set to make his PSL debut, bringing with him limited franchise experience, having previously featured in Major League Cricket (MLC) for the Washington Freedom.

On the international stage, Sears has represented New Zealand in 27 T20Is, claiming 31 wickets, in addition to picking up 10 wickets in just four ODIs.

Rawalpindiz’s bowling concerns have deepened following confirmation that Naseem Shah has been ruled out for the foreseeable future after sustaining a side injury during a recent clash against Karachi Kings.

While the pacer remains part of the squad, he is undergoing rehabilitation, with further medical assessments scheduled for April 15 to evaluate his recovery timeline.

Earlier, Zaman Khan was sidelined after suffering a dislocation of the acromioclavicular (ACJ) joint in his right shoulder during the National T20 Cup. He has since been replaced in the squad by Jalat Khan.

Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Rawalpindiz will now be hoping that Sears can provide immediate impact as they prepare for their next encounter against Quetta Gladiators on April 10.

READ: Hassan Khan breaks silence on decision to leave Pakistan for USA