Author: A Sports

KINGSTON: Kingsmen Sports Enterprise officially confirmed its entry into the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Wednesday after acquiring the rights to the Jamaica franchise ahead of the 2026 season.

Kingsmen, which recently invested in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) side, Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, plans to implement a similar model in Jamaica by promoting sports tourism, supporting local businesses and generating year-round economic activity around cricket and entertainment.

“Our vision for Jamaica goes far beyond match days,” said Fawad Sarwar, Group President of Kingsmen Sports Enterprise.

“This franchise is designed to act as an economic engine, creating employment, supporting local businesses, and positioning Jamaica as a global hub for cricket, culture and sportainment.”

Kingsmen has pledged to prioritise Jamaican suppliers, creatives and service providers to ensure that investment remains within the domestic economy.

In addition to commercial ambitions, Kingsmen has committed to strengthening the development pathway for Jamaican cricketers.

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Plans include investment in academies, structured coaching, data-driven scouting and youth engagement initiatives aimed at linking grassroots cricket with professional opportunities both locally and internationally.

“This is about creating opportunity — for young Jamaican cricketers, entrepreneurs, artists, hospitality workers and communities that see cricket as both heritage and future,” Sarwar added.

For context, Jamaica’s previous franchise, the Jamaica Tallawahs, were three-time CPL champions but have not featured in the last two editions.

Former owner Kris Persaud returned the team to the league in late 2023, citing a lack of government support, and later acquired a new franchise in Antigua, now known as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.

The GMR Group had previously held advanced discussions to revive the Jamaica franchise, even sending a delegation to last year’s CPL final, but negotiations did not materialise.

The league subsequently confirmed on Wednesday that Kingsmen had secured the rights, marking a new chapter for Jamaica’s presence in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

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COLOMBO: Fans will be able to watch the crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture between Pakistan and Namibia free of charge after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) opened the gates for spectators at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.

In an official statement, SLC confirmed that gates number five and seven at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground will be opened to the public from 1:00 PM local time, two hours before the scheduled start of play at 3:00 PM.

The board invited fans to witness the contest without purchasing tickets, making it the final World Cup match at the venue accessible “free-of-charge.”

According to SLC, the upcoming game will be the fifth and last fixture of the tournament hosted at the SSC, which has already marked two milestones during the event, staging the opening match of the competition and hosting its first-ever international game under lights.

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However, the weather could play a decisive role in the outcome. Forecasts indicate nearly a 60 per cent chance of showers, with thunderstorms already affecting the region.

The temperature is hovering around 29°C (RealFeel 30°C), while northern winds are blowing at 19 km/h with stronger gusts.

The match holds significant importance for Pakistan, who must win to secure qualification for the Super Eight stage by finishing second in Group A with six points.

Even in the event of a washout, Pakistan would still progress. A shared point would take their tally to five, keeping them ahead of the United States, who currently sit second with four points.

READ: Pakistan’s likely Playing XI for must-win Namibia clash

COLOMBO: Pakistan are expected to ring in a few tactical changes in their Playing XI for their crucial Group A encounter against Namibia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.

With qualification for the Super Eight stage on the line, team management is weighing conditions and combinations carefully, though sources have dismissed rumours surrounding the exclusion of opener Sahibzada Farhan.

The right-hander is set to retain his place in the XI. However, if Pakistan opt to open with Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, Farhan is likely to slot in at number four.

Conditions at the venue are also expected to influence selection. With a visible grass covering on the pitch, Pakistan are likely to favour pace over spin, which could see fast bowler Salman Mirza replace spinner Abrar Ahmed in the playing XI.

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Meanwhile, young batter Khawaja Mohammad Nafay is tipped to come in for all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

Pakistan head into the contest under pressure following a heavy defeat to arch-rivals India earlier in the tournament. The 2009 champions currently sit third in Group A with two wins and one loss, holding a net run rate of -0.403.

A victory over Namibia would take Pakistan to six points and secure their passage into the Super Eight stage with a second-place finish in the group.

Likely Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.

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PALLEKELE: Zimbabwe booked their place in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after their crucial Group B clash against Ireland was washed out due to rain at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, a result that officially ended Australia’s campaign.

The abandoned match handed one point each to both teams, taking Zimbabwe to five points and confirming them as the second side from Group B to advance, alongside Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, this result sealed Australia’s fate, who were already under pressure after defeats to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Their qualification hopes depended on Zimbabwe losing to both Ireland and Oman, which would have kept the race open on four points.

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Australia would then have needed a convincing win over Oman in their final group match to progress on net run rate.

However, the shared points between Zimbabwe and Ireland shut that door completely. Even a win in their last fixture can now only take Australia to four points, leaving them mathematically out of contention.

It marks the second time Australia have crashed out in the group stage of a Men’s T20 World Cup.

Ireland, meanwhile, also bowed out of the tournament. With just one victory — against Oman, they finished their campaign with three points.

READ: Canada’s Yuvraj Samra breaks Ahmed Shehzad record in T20 World Cup

CHENNAI: Canada’s rising star Yuvraj Samra has broken a record previously held by Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old batter produced a remarkable innings of 110 off 65 balls, striking 11 fours and six sixes in a fearless display against a quality New Zealand bowling attack.

With this knock, Samra etched his name into the record books, becoming the youngest player ever to score a century in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

At 19 years and 141 days, Samra broke the long-standing record held by Ahmed Shehzad, who was 22 years and 127 days old when he scored his century against Bangladesh in the 2014 edition.

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The Canadian prodigy also became the first player from an Associate nation to register a hundred in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

His milestone knock made him only the second batter to score a century in the 2026 tournament, following Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka.

Youngest centurions in Men’s T20 World Cup

19y 141d – Yuvraj Samra (Canada) vs New Zealand, Chennai, 2026

22y 127d – Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2014

23y 156d – Suresh Raina (India) vs South Africa, 2010

25y 83d – Alex Hales (England) vs Sri Lanka, 2014

25y 327d – Glenn Phillips (New Zealand) vs Sri Lanka, 2022

Samra’s brilliant century powered Canada to a competitive total of 173-4 against a formidable bowling lineup featuring Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson. Despite his heroics, the effort ultimately went in vain.

New Zealand chased down the target comfortably in 15.1 overs, courtesy of unbeaten half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, sealing victory and overshadowing Samra’s historic night.

READ: Colombo weather update ahead of Pakistan-Namibia clash

COLOMBO: Uncertain weather conditions could play a decisive role when Pakistan take on Namibia in a must-win clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.

According to the weather forecast, cloud cover is expected to dominate throughout the day, while the likelihood of rain could rise to 50–60 percent, potentially disrupting play.

The region is currently witnessing thunderstorms, with temperatures hovering around 29°C, feeling closer to 30°C due to high humidity levels.

Strong northern winds are blowing at 19 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 37 km/h.

Humidity remains extremely high at 74 percent, accompanied by dense 100 percent cloud cover that has reduced visibility to just 1.6 kilometres.

Rainfall accumulation has already reached 5.9 mm, while the low cloud ceiling of 600 metres continues to create gloomy, storm-like conditions.

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Weather is expected to improve slightly by late afternoon. Around 4 PM, skies are forecast to remain cloudy but more stable, with temperatures steady at 29°C and a RealFeel of 31°C.

Winds will persist at similar speeds, though gusts could strengthen up to 43 km/h. Humidity is predicted to ease marginally to 69 percent, visibility may improve to around 8 kilometres, and the cloud ceiling is expected to rise to 3,100 metres.

Pakistan enter the contest under pressure following a disappointing defeat to India earlier in the tournament. The 2009 champions are currently placed third in Group A with two wins and one loss, carrying a net run rate of -0.403.

A victory against Namibia would secure Pakistan six points and confirm their progression to the Super Eight stage with a second-place finish in the group.

READ: Usman Tariq defends out-of-form Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi

COLOMBO: Pakistan mystery spinner Usman Tariq has thrown his support behind senior stars Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Namibia, scheduled to be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday.

The reassurance comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing defeat to India, a result that drew heavy criticism towards the team’s senior players.

Babar managed just five runs in the high-pressure clash, while Shaheen conceded 31 runs in his two overs, leaving fans and analysts questioning their form.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Usman Tariq highlighted the immense contributions of the experienced duo and urged patience, stressing that ups and downs are part of the sport.

He expressed confidence that the team would bounce back strongly in the upcoming fixture.

“Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have won many matches for us. Winning and losing are part of the game. Going forward, you will see us play well,” Tariq said.

The spinner also shed light on the team’s internal review process following setbacks, noting that the focus remains on identifying mistakes and ensuring they are not repeated.

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According to him, learning from defeat is essential for consistent performance at the highest level.

“After every match, discussions revolve around what went wrong. If one match doesn’t go well, that’s part of the game,” he added.

Tariq emphasised that the squad has actively worked on correcting errors and improving execution, insisting that unresolved mistakes, not defeats, create long-term problems.

He also addressed the mental side of the game, pointing out the importance of handling pressure in crucial matches.

“Feeling pressure is normal. Controlling it is part of the job, and we have worked on that. Right now, I don’t feel the team is under pressure,” he concluded.

Pakistan currently sit third in Group A with two wins and one defeat, holding a net run rate of -0.403.

A victory against Namibia would take them to the Super Eight stage with six points and a second-place finish in their group, only behind India.

READ: New Zealand power into Super Eight after dominant win over Canada

CHENNAI: New Zealand stormed into the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after a commanding eight-wicket victory over Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a challenging target of 174, New Zealand completed the task with remarkable ease, reaching 176-2 in just 15.1 overs, powered by a match-defining partnership between Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

The Blackcaps made a steady start through openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, who added 30 runs before Canada struck back with quick wickets.

Seifert departed for six, while Allen’s brisk 21 off eight balls, featuring two fours and a six, ended soon after.

Ravindra and Phillips then took control, combining caution with aggression in a brilliant 100-run stand that put New Zealand firmly on course.

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Phillips led the charge with a scintillating unbeaten 76 off 36 deliveries, smashing four boundaries and six sixes to register his 12th T20I half-century.

Ravindra provided solid support with 59 off 39 balls, including four fours and three sixes, bringing up his fourth T20I fifty as New Zealand sealed a comprehensive win.

Earlier, Canada posted a competitive 173-4 thanks to a superb century from Yuvraj Samra.

Opting to bat first, Canada enjoyed a strong start as Samra and skipper Dilpreet Bajwa stitched together a 116-run opening partnership.

Bajwa contributed 36 off 39 deliveries before falling in the 14th over, but Samra carried on in sublime fashion, scoring a magnificent 110 off 65 balls with 11 fours before being dismissed in the final over.

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Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly shared his thoughts on the hype surrounding India-Pakistan matches nowadays, saying they’re no longer the big game for him and that they lack the same zeal.

His comments have come on the back of a lacklustre show from the Men in Green in Colombo, as they lost this marquee match by 61 runs – the biggest margin against India in T20 World Cups.

Ganguly explains how everyone has fooled themselves into believing that the current Pakistan side is the same as that of the 1980s and late 1990s, which included match-winners like Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar, among others.

Drawing comparison with other teams against whom both the competition and results bring excitement, Ganguly said India-Australia and India-South Africa matches are grander than the ones against Pakistan because of the quality gap between all these sides.

“A big match doesn’t really exist now; big matches used to happen earlier. We make the mistake of thinking of Pakistan as the team of Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, but that Pakistan no longer exists,” Ganguly said in a chat with an Indian news agency.

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“So, in my view, it’s not a big match for me; the real big matches are India vs Australia, India vs South Africa, and India vs England. There’s a huge difference between the teams, so the result is expected, and the quality gap is more noticeable than the result.”

“I am actually not surprised by what I saw. I actually stopped watching after the first 15 overs and started watching Manchester United and Man City (in English Premier League).”

Meanwhile, India has qualified for the Super 8s, becoming the second team after the West Indies to advance to the next round.

On Monday, South Africa also qualified, courtesy of Afghanistan’s maiden win (over the UAE) in this edition.

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KANDY: Pathum Nissanka’s sublime century helped Sri Lanka crush Australia in the 30th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026  here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Sri Lanka made a mockery of a stiff target, chasing down the 182 target in 18 overs, and losing only two wickets in the process.

With this loss, Australia will now hope to beat Oman if several other results go their way.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have qualified for the Super Eight with three wins out of three games.

After losing Kusal Perera early in the piece for one, Nissanka took the responsibility and forged a 97-run stand with Kusal Mendis.

The duo made the light work of the chase, crossing the 100-run mark in 12.2 overs.

Mendis made 51 from 38, striking a six and a half dozen fours.

Despite the wicket, Australia’s bowlers could not make a comeback as Nissanka kept them at bay with his tremendous strokeplay.

The right-hander was involved in another unbeaten partnership of 69 with Pavan Rathnayake.

Eventually, he reached his century with a flurry of boundaries and finished off the match with 100 not out from 52 balls, laced with 10 fours and five sixes.

For Australia, there was nothing much in the bowling attack with Marcus Stoinis picking up two wickets.

Earlier, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head’s brisk half-centuries powered Australia to a strong total against a depleted Sri Lanka bowling lineup.

Put into bat first, Australia were bowled out for 181 on the final ball of their innings.

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The openers came firing all cylinders in their must-win encounter, adding 104 in 8.3 overs.

The pair batted briskly against the Islanders’ bowling attack, which was without the services of Matheesa Pathirana, who suffered an injury blow in the opening overs.

Sri Lanka had already lost their ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.

Nonetheless, the stand eventually ended with Head’s wicket, who went after scoring 54 off 27, striking two sixes and eight fours. Soon after, Marsh followed him as Sri Lanka made a strong comeback.

The right-hander hit two sixes and eight fours in his enterprising 54 from 27 balls.

It was Sri Lanka spinners Dushan Hemantha and Dunith Wellalage show in the middle overs, curtailing a power-packed middle-order.

The hosts eventually managed to hold Australia below 200, as there was no significant contribution from the opposition’s lower middle order.

For Sri Lanka, Dushan Hemantha starred with three wicket haul, whereas Dushmantha Chameera provided him support with two wickets.

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