Author: A Sports

Karachi Kings have added emerging top-order batter Haroon Arshad to Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 squad.

The signing was confirmed through the franchise’s social handles in an animated poster.

“Welcoming our newest star. After shining in domestic cricket with 3 First-Class hundreds, Pakistan U19 sensation Haroon Arshad is now ready to shine brightest on the PSL stage,” Kings wrote on ‘X’.

 

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The 20-year-old has represented Pakistan U19 and scored his maiden first-class century on debut while returning for Karachi Blues in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26.

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He ended his impressive debut season with 748 runs in 13 matches at an average of 29.92 with the help of three centuries.

For the unversed, PSL 11 will be played from March 26 behind closed doors at two venues, Lahore and Karachi.

The decision comes as an austerity measure in the wake of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel’s war on Iran and aimed at fuel saving measures.

The opening match will be played between the defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Karachi Kings will open their campaign against Quetta Gladiators at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on March 28.

Updated Karachi Kings squad for PSL 11:

David Warner (c), Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Adam Zampa, Mohammad Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Khwaja Bin Tanveer, Reeza Hendricks, Haroon Arshad, Muhammad Waseem, Ihsanullah, and Rizwanullah.

Karachi Kings fixtures:

27 March – vs Quetta Gladiators, Lahore
29 March – vs Lahore Qalandars, Lahore
2 April – vs RawalPindiz, Rawalpindi
9 April – vs Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi
11 April – vs Hyderabad Kingsmen, Karachi
16 April – vs Islamabad United, Karachi
19 April – vs Multan Sultans, Lahore
22 April – vs Hyderabad Kingsmen, Lahore
23 April – vs Lahore Qalandars, Lahore
25 April – vs Quetta Gladiators, Lahore

READ: Naqvi confirms action against players withdrawing from PSL

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to take legal action against players who pulled out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Naqvi addressed the issue regarding players leaving PSL to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

“We are aware that two to three players have left, and we are taking legal action regarding this,” he told reporters during a press conference.

“However, if you look at previous years and this year, as well as last year, the number of Category A players coming from regions with tensions has remained steady,” he maintained.

The chairman highlighted the players’ pool while downplaying the clash with IPL.

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“Players who had never participated before have also started coming, and the IPL clash is not a major reason for us.”

“If all the top players are going there, we are also seeing good players coming to us,” Mohsin Naqvi explained.

It is worth mentioning that this will be the second consecutive year that the PSL will run concurrently with the IPL in a parallel window.

Earlier today, Lahore Qalandars bought Dasun Shanaka pulled out of PSL 11 to play in the IPL. The all-rounder replaced injured Sam Curran in the Rajasthan Royals.

Besides Shanaka, Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani has also joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Muzarabani went unsold in the PSL 11 auction but was later picked by Islamabad United as a replacement for Shamar Joseph.

However, after an impressive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, he was roped in by the KKR.

PSL 11 will be played from March 26 behind closed doors at two venues, Lahore and Karachi.

The opening match will be played between the defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

READ: Dasun Shanaka set to leave PSL for IPL move

Dasun Shanaka is set to play for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 despite being bought by Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 auction.

According to Cricinfo, the all-rounder has informed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 franchise Lahore Qalandars about the decision with the formalities of the move being completed.

Shanaka was bought by Qalandars for PKR 75 lakh in the auction held earlier this year.

Sri Lanka’s T20I captain will become the second player, after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani, to leave PSL and play in the IPL.

Muzarabani went unsold in the PSL 11 auction but was later picked by Islamabad United as a replacement for Shamar Joseph.

However, after an impressive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, he was roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

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Earlier today, it was announced that PSL 11 will be held behind closed doors and at fewer venues.

Originally, six cities, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Peshawar, were scheduled to host matches in the expanded eight-team edition.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed the decision during a press conference on Sunday, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions and an emerging oil crisis as key factors behind the move.

“After consultations with the Prime Minister and security agencies, we have decided that the PSL will begin on March 26 as planned,” Naqvi stated.

“Initially, matches will be held without crowds, and this will continue depending on the global situation.”

Naqvi also confirmed that the opening ceremony of the tournament has been cancelled, with PSL set to begin directly with the opening match on March 26.

“The opening ceremony of the league has been cancelled,” he said, adding, “The tournament will begin directly with the match.”

For those unaware, defending champions Lahore Qalandars are scheduled to face Hyderabad Kingsmen at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in the curtain-raiser.

READ: PSL 11: Karachi Kings announce Johnson Charles replacement

South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks has replaced West Indies Johnson Charles in the Karachi Kings squad for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The announcement was made through the franchise’s social media handles.

Adding firepower to the #KingsSquad. Reeza Hendricks hops on board for the season ahead,” the caption of the post read.

The outfit wished Charles the best of luck, as he will miss the upcoming season due to personal reasons.

“He joins the squad as a replacement for Johnson Charles, who will miss the season due to personal reasons. We wish him all the very best,” it added.

Hendricks previously turned out for Multan Sultans in PSL 9, playing eight matches and scoring 304 runs at an average of 43.42.

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Overall, the 36-year-old has played 296 T20s, accumulating 8372 runs with the help of five centuries and 64 half-centuries. He also has the highest score of 117 to his name.

The PSL 11 will be played from March 26 to May 4 across six venues in Pakistan.

Karachi Kings will play their opening fixture against Quetta Gladiators on March 27 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

A total of 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

Karachi Kings Squad

David Warner (C), Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Adam Zampa, Mohammad Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Khwaja Bin Tanveer, Reeza Hendricks, Muhammad Waseem, Ihsanullah, and Rizwanullah.

READ: Babar, Shaheen urged to take break from cricket

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has suggested that star duo Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi should take a break from cricket to regain their form.

Azhar, who played 97 Tests and 53 ODIs for Pakistan, shared his views on both players during the ‘Sports Room’ Eid Special programme.

During the show, Azhar was asked a series of questions in rapid-fire round.  When the host sought his advice for Babar and Shaheen, he suggested that both take time off from international cricket.

“Babar should take a six-month break from international cricket,” he said.

“He [Shaheen] should also take three months’ rest so that he gathers his fitness. I feel that if he takes two or three months break, he will be a great bowler,” he added.

The host then asked what suggestion you would give to [Director of the High Performance Center] Aqib Javed after a recent press conference. Azhar said that he should keep focusing on achieving his key objectives regarding academies.

‘He [Shaheen] should also take three months’ rest. I feel that if he takes rest, he would be a great bowler.

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The 41-year-old was also asked to pick the better captain among Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam.

”Babar [Azam],” he replied.

For the unversed, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have been in the spotlight due to their underwhelming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The leading run scorer in T20Is managed only 91 runs in six matches, averaging 22.75 with 46 his highest score.

As a result, he was not picked in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. However, Aqib Javed later revealed that the batter was not fit for the mega event.

Meanwhile, Shaheen took eight wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 10.52.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan cricketers share Eid-ul-Fitr greetings

Former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten opened up about his brief stint as the Pakistan cricket team’s coach.

Gary’s appointment as ODI and T20I coach of the Pakistan team came in April 2024 alongside Jason Gillespie, who was handed the reins of the Test side.

However, despite signing a two-year contract, his tenure lasted only six months before he tendered his resignation. The resignation followed a rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over selection issues.

In an interview with TalkSport, Kirsten spoke candidly about the challenges he faced during his stint.

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The 58-year-old also highlighted the outside noise and tough environment that contributed to his resignation, adding that he had never encountered anything like it before.

“What really stood out to me was the sheer level of interference. I’ve never encountered anything like it before. Did it catch me off guard? Maybe, but it was definitely notable,” he revealed.

“It’s really challenging for a coach to establish a system with the players when there’s nonstop interference from outside. It was a tough environment, with many punitive measures for poor performance and similar issues,” he continued.

Kirsten further stated that coaches are always in the firing line when a team ends on the losing side. He noted that removing coaches is often seen as the easiest option and questioned the very purpose of appointing them.

“As a coach, you’re often the first to be blamed when the team struggles. People say things like ‘let’s remove the coach’ or ‘let’s impose restrictions on the coach’ because it’s the easiest way to react—but in my opinion, it’s completely counterproductive. If that’s the approach, why even hire a coach?” he concluded.

READ: WATCH: Babar Azam turns chef on Eid-ul-Fitr

LAHORE: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam amused fans with his cooking skills on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The batter was seen in chef attire in a video shared on his Instagram handle.

“Meethi Eid Signature,” the caption of the post read.

Babar was actively involved in the cooking process, carefully preparing a dish as part of his Eid celebrations. The star batter was seen making Sheer Khurma, a vermicelli-based dessert closely associated with Eid-ul-Fitr.

The video quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments with Eid wishes and praise for his effort.

For those unaware, Babar has been away from professional cricket since the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to an injury disclosed by National High Performance Director (NHPC) Aqib Javed.

 

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He was not part of the Pakistan ODI squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh and also missed the National T20 Cup.

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However, neither the selection committee nor Babar provided an update regarding his fitness.

It is worth mentioning that Babar Azam is set to lead Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

For those unaware, PSL 11 will begin on March 26 across six venues in Pakistan, marking the start of a new era with the addition of two new teams.

Overall, 44 matches will be played, with the opening match scheduled between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium.

Each team will play 10 matches, with the top 4 teams advancing to the playoffs. The final of the event will be played on May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium.

The fixture list includes six double-headers, three of which will be played at Gaddafi Stadium. This will also be the first time that Faisalabad and Peshawar will be staging matches alongside Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.

READ: Hazlewood, Starc likely to miss start of IPL 2026

Pakistan men and women cricketers warmly greeted fans with heartfelt Eid-ul-Fitr wishes, sharing messages of joy, health, and prosperity on the festive occasion.

In a special video message released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), several Men in Green—including T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, ODI captain Shaheen Afridi, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and opener Sahibzada Farhan—sent best wishes to fans in Pakistan and worldwide.

“Pakistan cricket team, and I wish you a happy Eid. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the occasion with your friends and family,” Shaheen said.

Meanwhile, women cricketers Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, and Tuba Hassan also extended heartfelt Eid greetings.

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Women’s cricketers are on a break with their next assignment scheduled in May– a T20I tri-series featuring West Indies and hosts Ireland.

The series will serve as a preparatory ground ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to run from June 12 to July 5.

Meanwhile, Pakistan men’s cricketers are gearing up for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, scheduled to run from March 26 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: PSL 11 squads locked in as trade window closes

Australia’s ace pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to Cricket Australia’s (CA) workload management plan.

According to a report by Cricinfo, CA will be monitoring the workloads of their ace fast bowlers ahead of a packed international calendar.

Their unavailability means (Mitchell Starc) Delhi Capitals and (Josh Hazlewood) Royal Challengers Bangalore will be without their services, adding to the growing list of Australian cricketers who are not available for part or all of the upcoming season.

Pat Cummins will also miss the start of the IPL, as Ishan Kishan has been named as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad) was completely ruled out on Friday, and Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings) is also expected to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

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Cummins featured in one Ashes Test in the Australian summer due to a stress injury, while Hazlewood was ruled out of the entire Ashes and T20 World Cup 2026.

Mitchell Starc, who topped the wickets charts in the Ashes and played all five Tests, is already retired from T20Is. Hence, he was not part of the Australia squad that exited the group stage. Cummins and Hazlewood missed the mega as well.

For those unware, Australia will play up to 21 Tests from August 2026 to July 2027.

The IPL 2026 will run from March 28 to late May.

READ: PSL 11 trophy reaches Lahore as part of tour

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 trophy ‘Infinity’ arrived here on Friday as part of a nationwide tour ahead of the landmark Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The historic season 11 is scheduled to be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in the country.

The trophy was displayed at Minar-e-Pakistan and Lahore Fort, creating a buzz among cricket fans.

The silverware will be transported to Hyderabad on Friday, where it is planned to be displayed at Niaz Stadium and various other spots throughout the city.

For those unaware, the glittering silverware was unveiled at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi last week.

The trophy showcases an elegant, modern design with a tall, sleek golden structure emerging from a round base.

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The central section features sparkling stones or crystals in vertical arrangements, creating a glittering effect when lit. Two curved golden arms rise from the sides and converge at the top.

The top of the trophy features a prominent crescent and star, drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s national flag.

The crescent features small crystals embedded within, and a polished metallic star rests just above it, forming a visually striking and symbolic crown.

The trophy’s base is gold-plated and sits on a black cylindrical pedestal featuring PSL branding.

The 11th edition of the tournament will be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: Gautam Gambhir moves to court over AI misuse