Author: A Sports

Peshawar Zalmi have bolstered their pace arsenal by securing the services of England fast bowler Tymal Mills as a direct signing for the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The franchise confirmed the development through their official social media platforms, welcoming the left-arm pacer with a punchy message: “The storm just levelled up. Let’s welcome England’s express pacer Tymal Mills to the Yellow Storm.”

 

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PSL 11 is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, and Zalmi appear keen to assemble a squad capable of mounting a serious title challenge.

Mills becomes Zalmi’s second direct signing this season after Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie was drafted in as a replacement for Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who withdrew from the tournament.

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The English pacer is no stranger to the franchise, having previously represented Zalmi in the third edition of the PSL. During that campaign, he featured in five matches and picked up seven wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.21.

Overall, Mills has played 30 PSL matches, claiming 37 wickets at an economy of 8.41. He featured in the last two seasons for Islamabad United.

Peshawar Zalmi squad for PSL 11

Babar Azam, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig and Tymal Mills.

READ: India batter Rinku Singh leaves team after father’s death

CHENNAI: Dominant India sealed a massive win over Zimbabwe in the Group 1 crucial Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.

Set a massive 257, spirited Zimbabwe fell short, managing 184-6 despite Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97*.

Zimbabwe, who stunned Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, were never in the chase despite a brisk start as the asking rate kept rising.

Opener Brian Bennett was not out 97, the highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in T20 World Cup history, as his side exited the semi-final reckoning with a game still to play.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers conceded 510 runs in 40 overs in two Super Eights matches after West Indies posted 254-6 against the tournament’s surprise packages on Monday.

India’s left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took 3-24 from his four overs.

With this, South Africa have qualified for the semi-final while India will play West Indies in a virtual quarter-final.

Earlier, Abhishek Sharma’s brisk half-century, ably supported by cameos from the middle order, propelled India to a massive total

Put into bat first under lights at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, India racked up a massive 256-4 in their 20 overs, the second-highest target of World Cup history.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma provided a brisk start, adding 48 in 3.4 overs.

Samson made 24 from 15 balls with the help of two sixes and a four.

The rampage continued as Ishan Kishan joined the party, taking the score to 120 in 10.4 overs. Kishan made 38 from 24, striking four boundaries and a six.

Meanwhile, Sharma also continued the assault and reached his — maiden World Cup fifty, putting India into a dominant position.

He was eventually caught after scoring 55 off 30, including four maximums and four boundaries.

At this stage, India were 150-3 in 12.5 overs.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (33 from 13) also flexed their muscles.

Pandya and Varma particularly provided the impetus in the final overs, with the former reaching his fifty on the final ball of the innings. The all-rounder hit four maximums and two fours on his way to 50* from 23.

Meanwhile, Varma 44 from 16 was laced with four sixes and three boundaries.

For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava picked up a wicket each.

Playing XIs

India: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Zimbabwe: 1 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Dion Myers, 4 Ryan Burl, 5 Sikandar Raza (capt), 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Tashinga Musekiwa, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Tinotenda Maposa, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard Ngarava

READ: Shanaka seeks government help after T20 World Cup exit

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has urged the government to intervene over players’ mental health concerns following their exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. 

The Islanders suffered a 61-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand, marking their second loss of the Super Eight and ending their T20 World Cup campaign.

Speaking after the loss to New Zealand, Shanaka cited negativity as the reason behind the team’s downfall.

“A lot of times what we see and hear are negative things,” Shanaka said.

“No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside. That’s a big loss for Sri Lankan cricket,” he added.

The skipper emphasized that they have only one sport, noting that there is too much outside noise.

“This is the only sport we have, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to protect it. If you look outside the stadium, you’ll see how many people are standing outside with mics, and people will say stuff without having watched the match,” he continued.

“Why spread this negativity? Yes, we lost a World Cup, and we know the reasons. Everyone has concerns,” Shanaka lamented.

The 34-year-old urged the government to intervene, stating that it would be better for players’ mental health and future if the government mitigated this negativity.

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“More than talking about that and correcting it, the negativity has come to the fore. We will play and leave, but if for the players who will come in the future, if the government can even stop it [the negativity] that’s better for their mental health.”

He also highlighted the squad and emphasised good batting wickets, lamenting the unfavourable conditions.

“I said before the start of the tournament that I expected the wickets to be good for batting,” he said. “Sri Lanka’s best batters are here. We’ve picked players who have good domestic strike rates and ability. No one is here by force.

“Sometimes we don’t get conditions we want, and we lose matches in unexpected ways. We’re very sad about what has happened.”

“The team is always trying to perform, especially in a World Cup, and I don’t think anyone here will be able to play in a World Cup in Sri Lanka again,” Shanaka concluded.

READ: T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe win toss against India

CHENNAI: Zimbabwe have won the toss and opted to field first against India in the Group 1 Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk on Thursday.

Playing XIs

India: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Zimbabwe: 1 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Dion Myers, 4 Ryan Burl, 5 Sikandar Raza (capt), 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Tashinga Musekiwa, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Tinotenda Maposa, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard Ngarava

Head-to-head

India and Zimbabwe have played 13 times in T20Is. The Men in Blue have dominated the Chevrons with `10 victories while the latter have only managed three.

Matches: 13, India: 10, Zimbabwe: 3

READ: T20 World Cup: South Africa close in on semis after West Indies rout

AHMEDABAD: Aiden Markram led from the front with a captain’s knock as South Africa thrashed West Indies by nine wickets to move closer to a semi-final berth in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights on Thursday.

South Africa made lightwork of a stiff 177 target, chasing in 16.1 overs with ease, losing only one wicket in the process.

After the first innings, the momentum was on West Indies side, who remarkably recovered from a precarious position.

However, Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram came out all guns blazing, racing to 69 at the end of the powerplay.

The duo made West Indies bowling attack clueless with their aggressive stroke play, particularly Markram who remained the core aggressor.

West Indies finally got a breakthrough in the form of De Kock, who made 47 from 24 balls with the aid of four sixes and four boundaries.

At this point, South Africa were well ahead in the game, with 95 for 1 in 8 overs.

Despite the wicket, Markram continued on, stitching an 82-run partnership with Ryan Rickelton.

The pair made the chase look easy and reached the target on the first ball of the 16th over.

Markram’s unbeaten 82 off 46 was laced with four sixes and seven boundaries. Rickelton also supported him well, managing 45 off 28, including two sixes and four boundaries.

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For West Indies, there was nothing much in the bowling chart, except a solitary wicket for Roston Chase.

Earlier, A record eighth-wicket partnership by Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder enabled the West Indies to overcome an early collapse and post 176-8 against South Africa.

The pair came together with their team in deep trouble at 83-7 and put on 89, the highest eighth-wicket stand in the history of T20 internationals.

Shepherd was unbeaten on 52 off 37 balls with four sixes. Holder was run out off the penultimate ball of the innings for 49 off 31 balls with three maximums.

Both teams came into the match with a perfect five wins in the T20 World Cup so far.

South Africa have played four of their five matches in Ahmedabad and captain Aiden Markram had no hesitation in opting to bowl when he won the toss.

The West Indies took 17 off the first over, bowled by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

Kagiso Rabada’s introduction halted their charge as captain Shai Hope (16) edged his second ball to keeper Quinton de Kock.

Shimron Hetmyer was dropped at mid-on by Corbin Bosch off the next delivery, but lasted only two more when he miscued to midwicket, where Maharaj snapped up the catch.

Lungi Ngidi got in the act in his first over when Brandon King, on 21, edged to De Kock, and two balls later, Roston Chase chopped on.

From 29-0 after two overs, the West Indies slumped to 43-4 after four.

Ngidi took 3-30 from his four overs, Rabada 2-2, and Bosch 2-31.

READ: How Pakistan can still reach semi-finals after Sri Lanka elimination

COLOMBO: New Zealand’s 61-run thrashing of Sri Lanka has left Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hanging by a thread.

The Black Caps completely outplayed hosts Sri Lanka, knocking them out of the tournament.

Put into bat first, New Zealand managed to score 168-7 in 20 overs, largely due to Mitchell Santner’s gutsy knock of 47 runs.

In reply, Sri Lanka could only manage 107-8 at the end of their innings.

Rachin Ravindra earned the player of the match award for his outstanding all-round performance. The southpaw scored a vital 32 runs from 22 balls with the aid of a six and three fours.

With a 61-run win, New Zealand received a significant Net Run Rate boost and now sit in second position with an NRR of 3.050.

What does Pakistan need to do?

For Pakistan, the equation is no longer as simple as it was before New Zealand and Sri Lanka clash.

Pakistan currently has an NRR of -0.464. The Green Shirts not only need to beat Sri Lanka by a hefty 70-run margin, but must also rely on the result of the England-New Zealand match.

According to statistician Mazher Arshad, if England beat New Zealand by 20 runs, Pakistan would need to defeat Sri Lanka by 50 runs to qualify for the semi-finals.

If the game between New Zealand and England is abandoned due to rain, the Black Caps will qualify.

READ: T20 World Cup: New Zealand knock Sri Lanka out with NRR boost

COLOMBO: Rachin Ravindra rose to the occasion for New Zealand when it mattered most, handing the Black Caps a massive win over hosts Sri Lanka in the Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Set a challenging 169, Sri Lanka could only muster 107-8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra combined to inflict a miserable start on Sri Lanka, leaving them two down in the first two overs.

The Islanders’ main batter, Pathum Nissanka, was castled on the very first delivery of the innings, which set the tone for what was to come.

The wicket was followed by another, this time Charith Asalanka, who was caught cheaply in a bid to slog sweep. The former captain could only manage five.

With the Islanders in trouble at 6-2 in 2.1 overs, Kusal Mendis (11) and Pavan Rathnayake (10) tried to put the chase back on track. The pair did manage to arrest the slide but chewed up several overs as New Zealand kept it tight.

The tight overs never allowed the pair to free their arms, and as a result, they were reeling at 28 in eight overs.

The clinical bowling display from New Zealand yielded high rewards for them as Ravindra snapped two wickets in an over to leave Sri Lanka in a big mess with 29-4.

The woes were further compounded when skipper Dasun Shanaka was caught for three, pushing the 2014 champions to the brink.

Sri Lanka were hoping for a miracle that never happened, and wickets continued to tumble at short intervals.

Kamindu Mendis remained the top scorer with 31 from 23 while Dunith Wellalage managed 29 off 23 balls with the aid of a six and three fours, which only reduced the margin of defeat for Sri Lanka.

For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra stood tall amongst the bowlers with four wickets in his quota, whereas Matt Henry took two wickets in a clinical bowling display.

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The victory margin gives New Zealand a huge chance to qualify for the semi-final if they beat England, while Pakistan will be hoping for the result to go their way.

Earlier, Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana spun a web around the New Zealand batting lineup, but skipper Mitchell Santner’s gutsy knock lifted them to a strong total.

Asked to bat first here at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, New Zealand managed to post 168-7 in their 20 overs.

Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were off the block quickly, racing to 30 runs in 3.3 overs before Dushmantha Chameera struck to break the opening stand.

Tim Seifert made eight from nine balls and was caught at deep square leg.

Following an early wicket, Maheesh Theekshana also came into action, picking up the prized wicket of Finn Allen to jolt the BlackCaps. Allen was caught and bowled after scoring 23 off 11 with the aid of a six and three fours.

As a result, New Zealand were reduced to 34-2 in 4.4 overs.

The wickets brought Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra to the crease. The pair stabilized the innings with a 41-run partnership. Both batters looked settled, with New Zealand eyeing a big total as the scorecard read 75 in 9.3 overs.

However, Maheen Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage bowled in tandem to spark a mini collapse, leaving New Zealand six down in the span of eight runs.

The collapse left New Zealand in dire straits, 84-6 in 12.1 overs.

But it was Captain’s knock from Mitchell Santner alongside Cole McConchie for the eighth wicket that not only lifted them out of trouble but also put them in a commanding position.

The pair took the score from 84 to 168 at the end of the 20 overs, with Santner caught brilliantly on the last ball of the innings.

Santner 47 from 26 included four sixes and two fours, while McConchie remained unbeaten on 31 from 23, striking two sixes and three fours.

For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana shared six wickets between them.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has questioned Babar Azam’s place in the T20I side, saying the batter’s approach and strike rate raise concerns amid a slump in form.

Babar, 31, has failed to rise up to the occasion in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, managing 91 runs in four innings at an average of 22.75.

Speaking on a private channel, Latif questioned Babar Azam’s inclusion in the national side after his exclusion due to his approach in the shorter format.

“Babar is no longer a player of this format”.“Where did it improve? Why did you bring him back?” he questioned.

The wicket-keeper batter also scrutinized Pakistan’s approach with the bat, noting that modern-day batting demands batters play aggressively in response to changing situations.

He further remarked that a batter puts pressure on his fellow player after consuming 20 to 25 balls without playing aggressively.

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He also emphasized that set batters must take responsibility and bat deep, especially when partners are struggling to score freely.

It is worth mentioning that Babar was recalled to the national side in the home series against South Africa.

Babar, also the leading run-scorer in T20Is, was dropped from the side in December 2024 due to concerns about his strike rate. He also missed several key assignments for the Pakistan team, including the Asia Cup 2025, in the meantime.

Since his return to the T20I side, Babar has only scored 373 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.87. He managed to cross the fifty-run mark on three occasions, with 74 his highest score.

Interestingly, his strike rate is also on the lower side, which is 82.08, as compared to his overall T20I career, which is 128.02.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan climbs to career-best third in ICC T20I rankings

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to bowl first against New Zealand in the must-win ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter here at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Playing XIs

DUBAI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has surged to a career-best third position in the latest ICC T20I Batting Rankings following his prolific run in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Farhan, currently the leading run-scorer of the tournament, has amassed 283 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 70.75.

His consistent performances at the top of the order have earned him 810 rating points, moving him up two spots in the global standings.

The right-hander now sits just five points behind England’s Phil Salt, who occupies second place with 815 points.

India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the rankings with 877 points despite a relatively modest campaign in the tournament so far.

While Farhan enjoyed a significant rise, several other Pakistani batters experienced a dip in their positions.

Opener Saim Ayub has slipped three places to 34th, while former captain Babar Azam dropped one spot to 36th. Captain Salman Ali Agha is now ranked 38th after a one-place fall, and Fakhar Zaman has slid to 88th.

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In the bowlers’ list, spinner Abrar Ahmed dropped from third to fifth with 712 rating points, while Mohammad Nawaz fell three places to 12th.

Among the pacers, Mohammad Salman Mirza climbed one place to 18th, and Shaheen Shah Afridi rose four spots to 31st.

One of the biggest movers was Usman Tariq, who jumped 59 places to reach 55th.

Spinner Sufiyan Muqeem slipped 10 places to 60th, while all-rounder Shadab Khan gained 10 spots to move up to 65th.

Saim Ayub also dropped 11 places in the bowlers’ rankings to 66th, and pacer Haris Rauf fell five positions to 81st.

India’s Varun Chakaravarthy continues to lead the T20I bowlers’ rankings, followed by Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan in second. South Africa’s Corbin Bosch made a remarkable leap of 21 places to claim third spot.

In the ICC T20I all-rounders’ rankings, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza has reclaimed the top position, pushing Saim Ayub down to second. India’s Hardik Pandya remains third.

READ: ECB insists Pakistan players will not be frozen out the Hundred