Author: A Sports

READ: Rumman Raees urges Babar Azam to consider T20 retirement

LAHORE: Sahibzada Farhan smashed an unbeaten century to guide Multan Sultans to a commanding six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in a high-scoring encounter of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a daunting 226-run target, the Sultans produced a clinical batting display, reaching the target with eight balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

Farhan was the architect of the remarkable chase, remaining unbeaten on a scintillating 106 off just 57 deliveries. His innings, laced with eight sixes and seven fours, ensured the Sultans stayed ahead throughout the run-chase.

He found solid support at the top from Steve Smith, who scored a fluent 46, while vice-captain Shan Masood added a valuable 29.

Farhan then stitched an unbroken 37-run stand with Arafat Minhas, who played a quickfire cameo of 26 off 11 balls to seal the win in style

Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted an imposing 225-5 after being put into bat, riding on aggressive contributions from their top order.

The opening pair of Saim Ayub and Maaz Sadaqat provided a flying start, adding 59 runs in the first five overs before Peter Siddle broke the stand by dismissing the former for 27.

Sadaqat continued his impressive form, hammering a rapid 62 off 26 deliveries, striking five fours and five sixes, before falling to Mohammad Nawaz.

Veteran Sharjeel Khan then anchored the latter half of the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, ensuring the Kingsmen posted a formidable total.

Notably, this was the third defeat for the Hyderabad Kingsmen, whereas Multan Sultans are sitting at the top of the PSL 11 points table with two victories in as many games.

READ: Rumman Raees urges Babar Azam to consider T20 retirement

Pakistan pacer Rumman Raees has offered a candid piece of advice to star batter Babar Azam, suggesting that the latter consider retiring from T20 cricket to refocus on the longer formats.

Speaking during a podcast appearance alongside Fawad Alam, Raees described his remarks as a “friendly suggestion,” emphasising that Babar’s dip in form in the shortest format could have a broader impact on his overall game.

“There is no doubt about his class or his batting,” Raees said. “But in T20 cricket, I feel he should respectfully consider retirement and focus on ODI and Test formats.”

The left-arm pacer, who represented Pakistan between 2016 and 2018, argued that struggles in one format can often spill over into others, particularly given the fast-paced and high-pressure nature of T20 cricket.

“When performance drops in one format, it can affect the others as well. T20 is short and sharp, but its impact reflects on your overall game,” he added.

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Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation, has come under increasing scrutiny over his recent performances in T20 internationals.

Despite being among the leading run-scorers in the format globally, his returns in recent tournaments have failed to match expectations.

He was notably left out of Pakistan’s T20I plans in late 2024 and remained on the sidelines for a significant part of 2025, including the ACC Men’s Asia Cup.

Although he made a return later that year and featured in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, his campaign did little to silence critics. Babar managed just 91 runs in six matches during the tournament, averaging 22.75, with a highest score of 46.

READ: Maaz Sadaqat blazes into record books with 19-ball half-century

LAHORE: Maaz Sadaqat produced a sensational display of power-hitting to register one of the fastest half-centuries in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history during Hyderabad Kingsmen’s clash against Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The young top-order batter brought up his second PSL fifty in just 19 deliveries, equalling the joint third-fastest half-century in the league’s history alongside Luke Ronchi and Sam Billings.

The record for the fastest PSL fifty remains jointly held by Kamran Akmal, Asif Ali, Hazratullah Zazai and Rilee Rossouw, all of whom reached the landmark in 17 balls.

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Fastest half-centuries in PSL

• 17 balls – Kamran Akmal (2018), Asif Ali (2019), Hazratullah Zazai (2021), Rilee Rossouw (2023)
• 18 balls – Paul Stirling (2022), Tim David (2022), Mohammad Haris (2022)
• 19 balls – Luke Ronchi (2018), Sam Billings (2025), Maaz Sadaqat (2026)

Sadaqat signalled his intent from the outset, launching the innings with a towering six off Shehzad Gul and maintaining an aggressive tempo throughout his stay at the crease. Mixing clean hitting with calculated strokeplay, he raced to his fifty with a single off Sultans skipper Ashton Turner.

The 20-year-old eventually fell after a scintillating 62 off just 26 deliveries, an innings decorated with 10 boundaries, including five sixes, before being dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz.

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His explosive knock laid the foundation for a commanding total, as Hyderabad Kingsmen piled up an imposing 225-5 in their 20 overs.

Veteran batter Sharjeel Khan provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, while Saim Ayub (27) and Usman Khan (25) chipped in with valuable contributions.

READ: Saim Ayub achieves THIS milestone during Multan Sultans clash

New Zealand batter Devon Conway has dismissed a viral social media post attributed to him regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL), clarifying that the statement was shared by an impersonator and not from any official account.

The controversy emerged earlier this week when a verified X (formerly Twitter) account, posing as the New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter, reacted to the Chennai Super Kings’ defeat against the Rajasthan Royals.

The post suggested Conway was frustrated at missing out on IPL action while being committed to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he is representing Islamabad United.

“Hard to sit this one out… Watching CSK lose to Rajasthan Royals hurts. Right now I’m locked in with PSL duties, but revenge at Chepauk will always be on my mind,” the post stated.

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The message quickly gained traction, particularly given Conway’s association with Chennai in previous IPL seasons, sparking debate among fans over whether players should publicly comment on rival leagues while they are under ongoing commitments.

However, Devon Conway moved swiftly to set the record straight. Taking to Instagram, he urged fans to disregard the circulating post and clarified that he does not maintain a presence on X or Facebook.

“Please ignore this X account impersonating me. I am not on X/Facebook, and this account is not affiliated with me in any way,” Conway stated.

He also confirmed that he has reported the impersonating account and expressed hope that it would be taken down promptly.

“I have reported it, and hopefully it can be taken down as soon as possible,” he added.

READ: Saim Ayub achieves THIS milestone during Multan Sultans clash

LAHORE: Saim Ayub achieved a significant personal milestone on Wednesday as he crossed 1,000 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) during Hyderabad Kingsmen’s clash against Multan Sultans.

The left-handed opener brought up the landmark in style, dispatching the very first delivery of the innings, bowled by Shehzad Gul, to the boundary, becoming the 28th batter to enter the elite 1,000-run club in the tournament’s history.

Ayub now joins an illustrious list of Pakistani T20 performers, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Despite representing his third franchise in the PSL, Ayub has built the bulk of his tally during his time with Peshawar Zalmi, where he scored 860 runs across three seasons between 2023 and 2025.

He had earlier made his debut for Quetta Gladiators in the 2021 edition, enduring a modest start to his career with 114 runs in seven innings.

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In addition to his contributions with the bat, the 23-year-old has also chipped in as a bowler, claiming 14 wickets in the league at a respectable average of 30.42 and an economy rate of 7.88.

However, the landmark moment did not translate into a substantial innings in the ongoing fixture, as Ayub was dismissed for a short-lived 27 off 20 deliveries.

READ: Adam Zampa reveals why he opted for PSL instead of IPL

LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen have won the toss and decided to bat first against Multan Sultans in the eighth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. 

Playing XIs

Adam Zampa has revealed his all-time favourite Pakistani cricketer, naming legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi as the player who left the biggest impression on him growing up.

Currently featuring for Karachi Kings in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, the Australian leg-spinner shared his admiration during a recent podcast appearance, recalling how Afridi’s fearless style shaped his early love for the game.

“I just loved watching Shahid Afridi, not even because he was a leg-spinner, but because of the way he swung his bat,” Zampa said on ARY Podcast.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a batter. The way he entertained people really stood out.”

Zampa also highlighted a current star who has caught his attention during the PSL, Shaheen Shah Afridi. The leg-spinner, who recently faced Shaheen in a PSL fixture, was full of praise for the left-arm pacer’s match-winning ability and on-field presence.

“One player I really enjoy watching is Shaheen Afridi. I played against him recently, and he was outstanding, took four wickets and maintained great rhythm,” Zampa noted.

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“It always feels like something is happening when he’s bowling.”

Adam Zampa further underlined Shaheen’s ability to consistently trouble batters, describing him as a bowler with both skill and instinct.

“He clearly knows what he’s doing and has a real knack for taking wickets. Facing him isn’t easy, most of the time, you’re just trying not to get hurt,” he added with a smile.

READ: Adam Zampa reveals why he opted for PSL instead of IPL

Karachi Kings’ spinner Adam Zampa has shed light on his decision to feature in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 instead of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), pointing to financial imbalance and limited opportunities as key factors behind the move.

Speaking during the ARY Podcast, the Australian leg-spinner offered a candid assessment of his situation, revealing that his skill set did not attract lucrative deals in the IPL despite the league’s massive financial scale.

“To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, the money just isn’t there compared to what’s available for other skill sets,” Zampa said.

“Considering the amount of time the IPL requires, it didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me to keep playing.”

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Adam Zampa admitted that he was not a primary target for IPL franchises, which ultimately influenced his decision to step away from the tournament.

The 34-year-old had initially planned to take a short break from cricket before an unexpected opportunity emerged in the PSL.

“I was planning to take a break, but then the PSL came onto the radar about a month ago. It all happened pretty quickly, but I’m enjoying it,” he added.

The leg-spinner was subsequently picked by Karachi Kings during the league’s first-ever auction, and he has already made a notable impact in the ongoing season.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Zampa has played a key role in Karachi’s early success, claiming three crucial wickets across their opening matches and contributing significantly to both victories.

Reflecting on his initial experience in the PSL, Zampa praised the competitiveness of the tournament, highlighting the quality of opposition he has faced so far.

“You look at some of the teams and the names they have, especially in the bowling attack, it’s almost international-level quality,” he said. “Even in a game where we were chasing 129, it went right down to the wire, which shows how strong these sides are.”

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