Author: A Sports

Sialkot’s newly inducted Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise has officially revealed its name ahead of the landmark season 11, confirming long-standing rumours by branding the team as Sialkot Stallionz.

The announcement was made through a 3D animated video posted on the team’s official X account.

The video introduced the franchise’s identity, with the caption:
“You guessed it. You waited. Now, I am proud to officially introduce SIALKOT STALLIONZ. Excited to be part of the Pakistan Super League journey.”

From the heart of Sialkot,
a name that carries resilience and pride.
Introducing Sialkot Stallionz. 🐎🔥#SialkotStallionz pic.twitter.com/MCyDxyS8Eg

— Sialkot Stallionz (@PSLStallionz) January 21, 2026

The name has strong domestic cricket roots, paying homage to the iconic Sialkot Stallions, a powerhouse of Pakistan’s domestic T20 cricket.

The team claimed six National T20 Cup titles between 2005 and 2012 and remains one of the most successful sides in the country’s domestic history.

Sialkot Stallions also held a world-record 25-match unbeaten run, a feat that still stands as a benchmark in Pakistan’s T20 circuit.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The team’s legacy includes notable players such as Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir and Haris Sohail, among others.

The newly named PSL franchise was acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers won the bid with a record price of Rs 1.85 billion, securing the rights to the Sialkot franchise.

READ: PCB backs Bangladesh in T20 World Cup venue dispute, writes to ICC

Australia’s senior stars Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh are set to feature in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), with both players committing to a franchise owned by former Test captain Steve Waugh.

The six-team competition, scheduled to begin later this year, is set to make history as the first ICC-sanctioned T20 league to be staged across multiple countries.

The ETPL will operate across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, marking a significant push to expand the game’s footprint in Europe.

Steve Waugh is part of a consortium that owns the Amsterdam-based franchise, Amsterdam Flames, and has confirmed that Smith and Marsh are among the headline players signed for the team.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards has also joined the Flames, while discussions are ongoing with Australian power-hitter Tim David.

“We’ve approached a number of players and haven’t had one negative comment at all,” Waugh told.

“They’re fascinated by the concept, especially because it’s in Europe. They know what I stand for in terms of values, teamwork and success, and they see this as a serious project.”

The six-team league features franchises owned by several high-profile cricket figures. Glenn Maxwell will co-own the Ireland-based Irish Wolves alongside Rohan Lund, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Australian insurance firm NRMA.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum have acquired the Edinburgh franchise.

So far, franchises in Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh have been sold, while teams based in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow are expected to be finalised in the next phase of the league’s rollout.

Waugh stressed that the ETPL is designed to be more than a symbolic gesture towards European cricket.

“We want this to be a meaningful competition,” he said. “It’s not just about supporting European cricket in name. The aim is to build one of the best leagues in the world. That might be ambitious, but you have to set high standards.”

He also highlighted the role that senior players, such as Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh, can play in developing emerging talent.

“They’re at a stage of their careers where it’s not just about personal success, but the impact they can have on other players and the growth of the game,” Waugh added.

The inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20. Matches will be played in Ireland and the Netherlands, with final venue details expected to be announced in due course.

READ: Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell among team owners in European T20 League

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) has taken a major step forward with the announcement of its first set of franchise owners, headlined by Australian great Steve Waugh and current all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

The six-team competition, scheduled to begin later this year, is set to make history as the first ICC-sanctioned T20 league to be staged across multiple countries.

The ETPL will operate across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, marking a significant push to expand the game’s footprint in Europe.

The league is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and India-based Rules Global (Rules X), in strategic collaboration with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is a co-owner of the league, alongside three Indian investors, including Dhiraj Malhotra, the former CEO of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.

Among the franchises already sold, Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh have confirmed ownership groups, while teams in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Steve Waugh is part of a consortium that will own the Amsterdam-based franchise, named Amsterdam Flames. The group also includes former Australian field hockey star Jamie Dwyer.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Glenn Maxwell, meanwhile, will co-own the Irish Wolves franchise alongside Rohan Lund, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Australian insurance giant NRMA.

Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum have also invested in the league, with the duo purchasing the Edinburgh franchise.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Waugh expressed enthusiasm about the response from the cricketing community and the league’s broader vision.

“We’ve approached a number of players and haven’t had one negative comment at all,” Waugh said.

“They’re fascinated by the concept, particularly because it’s something new in Europe. The potential to grow the game in a new market and help develop European and continental players is really exciting.”

The inaugural season of the ETPL is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, with matches to be played in Ireland and the Netherlands. Final venue details are expected to be confirmed in due course.

READ: PCB backs Bangladesh in T20 World Cup venue dispute, writes to ICC

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), throwing its support behind Bangladesh’s stance in the ongoing controversy over venues for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.

The PCB sent an email to the ICC on Tuesday, backing the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to have its World Cup matches shifted out of India due to security concerns.

The email was also copied to other members of the ICC Board, although it remains unclear whether the PCB’s intervention directly prompted the ICC to call an emergency Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The ICC, however, has so far remained firm on its position and is understood to be unwilling to move Bangladesh’s fixtures away from India.

The governing body has repeatedly conveyed to the BCB that the tournament schedule will not be altered, despite Bangladesh pushing for their matches to be staged in Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the event alongside India.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the ICC Board meeting, which has been convened to address the BCB’s concerns.

January 21 had been set as the informal deadline for a resolution, with the tournament less than three weeks away from getting underway.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The ICC and the BCB have held multiple rounds of discussions over the past week, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, but both sides have remained entrenched in their positions.

Bangladesh have maintained that they are unable to send their team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, while the ICC has insisted that matches must go ahead as originally planned.

The deadlock has fuelled speculation over possible alternative arrangements, including unverified reports suggesting that Pakistan had offered to host Bangladesh’s matches.

Neither the PCB nor the ICC has officially responded to ESPNcricinfo’s queries regarding the email or the wider implications of the dispute.

The standoff reportedly began after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026.

The move triggered a strong reaction in Bangladesh, with the country’s government subsequently stating that the national team would not play its World Cup matches in India.

READ: Struggling Suryakumar Yadav will not adapt style to find form before T20 World Cup

MIRPUR: Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das is unsure about the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on 7 February.

Bangladesh is slotted in Group C in the marquee event alongside West Indies, Nepal, and England. The Tigers’ first three matches are scheduled in Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with their last match taking place in Mumbai.

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to send its team to India for the tournament, citing safety concerns for players and support staff, and has requested that the ICC shift the matches outside India.

The decision followed an IPL-related dispute involving pacer Mustafizur Rahman, which triggered strong reactions in Dhaka.

Despite multiple discussions, the ICC’s proposal to change venues within India was rejected by the BCB, which remains firm on playing its matches in Sri Lanka, prolonging the standoff.

Das spoke to the media after Rangpur Riders lost to Sylhet Titans in the Eliminator of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“It’s not safe [to answer],” Das told reporters regarding the ongoing impasse in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup.

“You don’t know, I don’t know, we’re on the same page. The World Cup is still a long way away. We’re not even sure yet whether we’ll go to the World Cup at all,” he maintained.

He emphasized opponents and pointed out the clarity regarding the decision, which would ease some nerves.

“Everyone is playing the BPL, that is true, but if we had known who our group opponents were or which country we were going to, that would have helped. Until now, no player knows which country we are going to or whom we will play against. Like me, the whole of Bangladesh is now in uncertainty.

The skipper also revealed that the team had been kept in the dark regarding participation in the mega event.

“I don’t know but there has been no communication with me. Many things in life are not ideal, but you have to accept them according to the situation,” he concluded.

READ: West Indies umpire Chris Taylor to officiate President’s Trophy matches

KARACHI: West Indies umpire Christopher Mark Taylor is set to officiate three matches of the President’s Trophy Grade- I as part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Umpire Exchange Programme, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced today.

Taylor will officiate the Ghani Glass vs Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) fixture set to start on Wednesday, 21 January at the National Bank Stadium.

“The Ghani Glass v Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) game at the National Bank Stadium beginning on Wednesday, 21 January will be Taylor’s first game in the tournament,” the board said in a press release.

“He will also be the field umpire in Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) v SNGPL fixture at the KCCA Stadium starting 27 January, and Sahir Associates v Pakistan Television (PTV) game at the National Bank Stadium, scheduled to start on 2 February,” it added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Overall, Chris Taylor has officiated in five women’s one-day and three T20Is besides his 41 first-class, 56 List-A, and 53 T20s experience.

Taylor last served as an umpire in the West Indies domestic 50-over competition in November 2025.

It is worth noting that the fourth round of the tournament resumes on Wednesday, with WAPDA squaring off against OGDCL at the KCCA Stadium.  Meanwhile, in another fixture, Ghani Glass will face SNGPL at the National Bank Stadium.

While Sahir Associates will face State Bank of Pakistan at the State Bank Stadium, defending champions PTV will take on KPL at the UBL Sports Complex.

READ: U19 World Cup: Australia crush Japan to seal Super Six berth

MIRPUR: Mirza Baig and Aamer Jamal starred as Chattogram Royals sealed a place in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 final with a six-wicket victory over Rajshahi Warriors here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, on Tuesday.

Set mere 134 to chase in Qualifier 1, Royals hit the winning runs on the third ball of the final over.

Mirza Baig and Mohammad Naim laid a strong foundation with a 64-run stand in 11.3 overs.

Naim 30 from 38 included three fours.

Despite the wicket, Chattogram Royal kept cruising as the Pakistani duo of Hasan Nawaz and Mirza Baig stitched a 34-run partnership, which brought the total to 98 in 15.3 overs.

Despite the wickets, Baig held the innings together and brought his side near the finishing line.

He eventually departed after scoring 45 from 47 balls with the help of four boundaries.

With nine required of the final over, Royals skipper Mahedi Hasan smashed a six and took a double run to take his side into the final. He remained unbeaten on 19 from nine balls.

For Rajshahi Warriors,  Abdul Gaffar Saqlain scalped two wickets.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Earlier, put into bat first, Rajshahi Warriors batting lineup faltered under pressure and were skittled for 133 at the end of their 20 overs.

Sahibzada Farhan and Tanzid Hasan put on a 30-run partnership for the opening wicket in 5.3 overs.

Farhan was caught after scoring 21 off 19, which included a six and two fours.

However, it was Mahedi Hasan’s back-to-back strikes on successive deliveries that turned the game on its head. The spinner first snared Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck and followed up the wicket with the captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made eight.

As a result, Warriors were reduced to 49-3 in 8.4 overs.

Despite wickets tumbling around him, Tanzid kept his head cool, but Hasan Nawaz ended his resistance in the 14th over.

He departed after top-scoring for his side with 41 off 37, striking three fours and a six.

Aamer Jamal, meanwhile, cut through the lower order with two wickets as Abdul Gaffar Saqlain hit a quick-fire 32 from 15 to take his side to a competitive total.

The right-hander’s innings included three sixes and two fours.

For Chattogram Royal, Aamer Jamal bowled three overs and picked up two wickets while giving away 27. Mahedi Hasan also managed to pick two, while the rest of the five bowlers also picked one apiece.

READ: U19 World Cup: Australia crush Japan to seal Super Six berth

WINDHOEK: Will Malajczuk’s sublime ton guided Australia to an easy win over Japan, while the Bangladesh vs New Zealand fixture was washed out in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026.

Set 202, Australia romped to an eight-wicket victory in 29.1 overs, becoming the first team to qualify for the Super Six stage of the tournament.

Will Malajczuk and Nitesh Samuel started briskly in the chase as the pair added 135 in 15.3 overs.

Malajczuk remained the core aggressor, first racing to a 21-ball half-century and then completing his ton on 51 balls.

He eventually departed after scoring 102 off 55 balls, laced with five sixes and 12 fours. Steven Hogan was the second wicket to fall in the 20th over. He made 15 from 20 balls.

Eventually, Australia reached the target with Samuel’s remaining unbeaten on 60 off 73 deliveries, hitting four boundaries. Tom Hogan made 19* from 27 balls.

For Japan, Charlie Hara-Hinze and Nihar Parmar picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, Japan decided to bat first and managed 201-8 at the end of their 50 overs.

After losing Nikhil Pol for a duck in the opening over, Nihar Parmar and Hugo Tani-Kelly stabilized the innings with a 58-run partnership.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Parmar made 33 from 67 balls with the help of a six and two boundaries.

Japan were kept afloat by Hugo Tani-Kelly, who held the innings together with a string of parnterships until the middle order collapse.

He forged another partnership of 46 runs with Charlie Hara-Hinze (24), bringing the total over 100 run mark.

However, Hinze’s dismissal sparked a mini collapse, slumping Japan from 103-5 to 118-6 in 30.3 overs.

Despite the wickets, Tani-Kelly resisted and remained unbeaten on 79 from 135 deliveries, which included six fours.

For Australia, Naden Cooray remained the pick of the bowlers with three scalps to his name.

Meanwhile, the Group B fixture between New Zealand and Bangladesh got washed out due to rain.

The fixture commenced after an hour delay and was reduced to a 47-over match per side.

However, due to rain, only 10 overs of play were possible with New Zealand scoring 51-1.

The second rain-abandoned clash left New Zealand in a precarious position, as they will have to defeat India in their final group stage fixture to avoid depending on other results — Bangladesh-USA to advance to the Super Sixers.

READ: Sixers’ captain admits Babar needed ‘days’ to get over Smith saga

PERTH: Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques has revealed that Babar Azam was upset and needed several days to move on after Steve Smith denied him a single during his side’s must-win Big Bash League (BBL) 15 fixture.

During the Sydney Sixers’ clash against Brisbane Heat on Sunday, 18 January, Smith was keen to capitalize on the Power Surge over. Babar nudged the last ball of the 11th over to long on, but Smith opted not to run.

In the next over, Smith accumulated a record 32 runs from the over, including four sixes in a row.

Babar was dismissed in the next over and appeared visibly frustrated, striking the boundary cushion with his bat as he made his way back to the pavilion.

The ace batter remained in the dressing room for the remainder of the game and did not rejoin his teammates when players mingled on the outfield after the game.

Speaking ahead of the Sixers’ qualifier against Perth Scorchers, Henriques admitted that the incident took time to settle.

“It took a couple of days for that to settle down,” Henriques told Fox Cricket. “To be honest, think it’s just a bit of a misunderstanding of the culture of each other, ” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The skipper explained that such on-field decisions are common in Australian cricket culture and that Babar initially struggled to relate to it.

“It’s a pretty common thing in our culture, and maybe for him (Babar), he wasn’t used to it and didn’t quite understand.

Once it was explained to him, he was absolutely fine. They’ve kissed and made up, and it’s two of the greats back friendly again,” Henriques revealed.

He also confirmed that he, along with Sixers coach Greg Shipperd, spoke to Babar to help him move on from the incident.

“[We are] always trying to understand…we could visibly see he was quite upset with what happened on the field, so we needed to try and understand why he felt that way. Once we got to the bottom of it, it was okay,” he explained.

For the unversed, Babar Azam has endured a lean run in the tournament, managing just 202 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 103.06.

His poor run continued in the qualifier, where he was dismissed for a two-ball duck during the Sixers’ chase of 148 against the Scorchers in the BBL Qualifier.

READ: Chris Woakes’ last-ball six sends Sylhet Titans into BPL Qualifier 2

PERTH: Perth Scorchers delivered a clinical all-round performance to outclass Sydney Sixers by 48 runs and book their place in the final of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 at Optus Stadium on Tuesday.

Asked to bat first, the Scorchers recovered from an early setback to post a competitive 147 for nine in their allotted 20 overs, with Finn Allen once again playing a pivotal role.

The hosts were rocked in the opening over when Mitchell Starc removed Mitchell Marsh for five, giving the Sixers a dream start.

Allen, however, counter-attacked alongside Aaron Hardie, and the pair added a vital 58 runs for the second wicket to stabilise the innings.

Starc returned to break the stand, dismissing Allen for a fluent 49 off 30 deliveries, an innings laced with two fours and four sixes.

The Scorchers then slipped into trouble, losing four wickets for just 20 runs and sliding to 87 for five.

Skipper Ashton Turner anchored the innings with a measured 29 off 21 balls, while Jhye Richardson chipped in with a valuable 20 off 18 down the order, ensuring Perth crossed the 140-run mark.

For the Sixers, Starc led the attack with two wickets, while Jack Edwards and Ben Dwarshuis also claimed two apiece.

Joel Davies and Ben Manenti picked up one wicket each as Sydney kept the Scorchers in check during the latter stages.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

In response, the Sixers’ chase never gathered momentum as they were bowled out for just 99 in 15 overs.

The visitors’ troubles began immediately when opener Babar Azam was dismissed for a second-ball duck, stumped by Josh Inglis off Cooper Connolly in the very first over.

The collapse continued in the fourth over when Mahli Beardman struck twice, removing Josh Philippe for 13 and captain Moises Henriques for two, leaving the Sixers struggling at 23 for three.

A brief resistance came through a 40-run partnership between Steve Smith and Lachlan Shaw, but David Payne ended that stand by dismissing Shaw for 15.

Smith, who top-scored with 37 off 24 balls, soon followed, becoming Beardman’s third victim as the Sixers lost their last hopes.

With Smith gone, the batting folded rapidly, as Sydney lost their remaining four wickets for just 25 runs to be bundled out well short of the target.

Beardman was the standout performer with the ball for the Scorchers, finishing with impressive figures of three for 20. Connolly and Payne picked up two wickets each, while Hardie and Richardson contributed with one apiece.

Despite the heavy defeat, the Sixers remain in contention for the title. They will get another opportunity to reach the final when they face the winners of the Knockout clash between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars, scheduled for Wednesday, in the Challenger on Friday.

READ: Shoaib Malik announces retirement ahead of PSL 11